Disclaimer: I do not own the characters (most of them) nor do I own big part of the plot which is based off a manga series called Superior by Ichtys.

Superior

Chapter 5

- The state of being destroyed -

''Why are we here again?'' Minako asked annoyed as she, Haruka and Michiru moved closer to a little town which looked rather abandoned. They had walked for days just to get back here. This was Haruka's hometown. Haruka said that if the queen had moved from continent to continent she had to travel a long distance back anyway so she decided she wanted to return to see her friends and family one last time. Minako couldn't help but feel sad upon hearing those words. Did Haruka expect to die in this battle?

She probably would have a different view on the whole matter if Michiru would just admit she was the demon queen. Maybe Haruka would change her opinion about the queen and demons. On the other hand, what if Haruka's hatred for the demon queen was deeper than she expected and she wouldn't hesitate to kill Michiru? Minako was sure Michiru would fight back and it would result in Haruka's death.

Over the past few days on their way here Haruka hadn't really talked to any of them. She'd been too deep in thought to bother. Besides that she was probably slightly upset that she was traveling with not one but two demons now. Minako could understand Haruka's inner conflict. If she got to attached to demons who would disappear along with the demon queen it would result to a lot of emotional stress.

''I wonder which side I should pick when that happens.'' Minako wondered out loud to no one in particular. She noticed Michiru stare at her for a few seconds before minding her own bussiness again and sped up a little to catch up to the blonde tomboy. Minako was now walking behind the two in silence wondering once again why she was here again. She had wondered that a lot lately.

Minako hated Michiru. At least she thought she hated Michiru but after their fight a few days ago she had changed her opinion on the queen. Not only had Michiru spared her life in a fight but she also swore she had no idea about her giving orders to kill demons and humans who fell in love. She had decided to give the aqua haired royalty the benefit on the doubt.

When they finally reached the town gate Minako could clearly feel the presence of humans but she could also feel their despair from here. It was obvious this town had been through a lot. That was probably the reason Haruka was so driven to kill the demon queen. ''You two wait here,'' Haruka commanded both demon girls and walked towards the big wooden gate which didn't seem like much. The goddess of Venus was sure she could sneeze down that gate in a few seconds if she wished. Instead she just watched Haruka knock on the doors in some kind of code.

It stayed quiet for a moment and Minako was just about to comment how everyone was probably dead already but the look in Michiru's eyes warned her not to do so. God, that queen could really read her mind. It was almost scary. Then, suddenly Minako noticed how there was some silent rumbling from behind the gate and slowly it opened, revealing a tall man who was holding some sort of weapon aimed at Haruka she had never seen before. It was black and obviously made from metal. From the look on Haruka's face it was a dangerous one at that.

''Calm down Satoshi,'' Haruka said and put her hands up to show the man she meant no harm. ''It's me. Tenoh.'' For a moment or two the man seemed to study the woman's face. It hadn't been until now Minako noticed the tired look on his face. But that didn't stand out the most. His right arm was completely replaced by a metal arm just just hung beside him as he held his weapon with his left hand. Then his eyes lit up and he dropped his weapon to hung the blonde tomboy with his one working arm.

''I didn't think you'd be back!'' He exclaimed but his voice betrayed a certain sadness as well. ''Did you, you know... kill it?'' He was probably reffering to the demon queen which was a direct stab in Michiru's heart. She wasn't an 'it'. She had feelings and emotions just like them. She was just a lot stronger and could change her appearance by choice. She clenched her fists.

''No, I didn't. The information we got was wrong. The queen moved north so that's where I'm heading now. I just wanted to make sure everyone was alright. I wanted to see Hitomi, I missed her.'' Minako remembered Michiru telling her Haruka had a little sister with that name. They both lost their parents when demons attacked this town.

Satoshi sighed and put his left hand on his head, looking sad and disturbed all of a sudden. ''We need to talk. A lot happened since you left.''

''I see,'' Haruka eyed his metallic arm. ''What happened?''

''I'll tell you later.'' It was as if he hadn't noticed before but he finally looked up at the two girls behind Haruka and gestured them to come closer. ''Any friend of Haruka is a friend of this town. Please apologize my rude behaviour. My name is Satoshi Seger.''

''I'm Michi.'' The aqua haired demon queen said and made a small bow and smiled as polite as she could. Still she couldn't help it but hate the man who was standing in front of her. Maybe because she knew he would hate her just as much when he found out who and what she really was.

Minako simply copied Michiru's bow and introduced herself as Minako Aino while shaking the man's hand. She was tempted to ask him if he was able to make his right arm move but she decided it would be rude to ask. Maybe she could make him fall for her if she used a little of her demonic power just like she had done for ages. But she wasn't a complete moron. Michiru had given her a clear warning about using her powers unless it was absolutely nessesary.

''We'll talk later. And I wouldn't go as far as calling them my friends. They're just tagging along. Where's Hitomi?'' Haruka eyed her black haired friend closely. In the back of her mind she feared the worst but she just refused to give in to those thoughts. Nothing would happen to Hitomi. ''Well?''

''Follow me,'' Satoshi said and put his arm around the tomboy and dragged through the gate. Minako and Michiru followed on a distance, both annoyed by the smell of the town and all eyes that were on them. Although this town would appear deserted at first, the moment you walked in you were greeted by fearsome and suspicious eyes that were watching them closely from the shadows.

This some reeked of death. Michiru could feel how many people, both human and demon, died in this town either attacking or protecting it. It was a sickening feeling. ''We're going inside for a bit,'' Haruka turned to face the aqua haired girl. ''You two stay out of trouble while I talk to Satoshi.'' Michiru and Minako just nodded in reply and watched Haruka and the black haired man move into a dusty and old looking building.

''Did you see that thing he was holding. What was that?'' Minako asked when they finally got inside and both demons were left alone in the middle of an empty square. ''It looked like a weapon but it wasn't a crossbow or anything I've seen before. I mean, some of the soldiers had those black things as well but I never thought of them as weapons. I thought they were strange cases of mace.''

''They're called guns. The thing he was holding is called a rifle. If fired things called bullet. They can harm even us. Especially if they don't move right through us and stay in our bodies. Eventually we can fight off the infection but it's better to avoid those kinds of wounds. It takes hell to heal.'' Michiru explained. She hadn't seen a rifle before or ever been in contact with someone who had but as the queen of the demons she was forced to know stuff like that.

She didn't think there were any humans possessing those kinds of weapons anymore. After the demons started coming to the surface and started taking over this world had turned into a wasteland. Most technology from the old days were destroyed. Michiru wanted to continue to tell Minako about those modern weapons but she noticed how the blonde demon was already focussed on something else. Or rather, someone else.

''Oh?'' The aqua haired girl turned a bit to face the same direction as Minako was facing. In front of one of the closed doors stood a little girl with long silver hair staring back at them. She was holding a teddy bear in one arm and was smiling sadly as she moved towards the two demons.

''She's...'' Minako stammered. ''How terrible.'' The other just nodded in agreement.

Eventually after taking baby steps the little girl had finally reached Minako and Michiru. ''Today is my birthday.'' She spoke.

Michiru wondered what expression she must have worn when the child started talking all of a sudden. If she were to make a comparison, she figured it was probably something like the face you'd make hearing some alien language from the edge of the world while wondering, ''What the hell is she saying?'' That's just how enstranged she was from the child's words.

''Oh, I see.'' The aqua haired demon replied. She knew her reaction was lacking somehow. ''How nice.'' She tried again but that wasn't quite right either. Wasn't there supposed to be something you had to say? Michiru remembered learning about the humans and their traditions. Apparently every year on the day they were born humans would celebrate their birthday. Celebrating getting older and getting closer to dying. Michiru thought it was strange people wanted to celebrate such a stupid occassion. Although she couldn't help it but wonder if she had a birthday too. She'd lived for so long she couldn't even remember. And because of the fact she didn't sleep time went differently for her. It never stopped and to her the day never ended. It was a constant routine.

The look in the child's eyes changed and for a moment Michiru thought she was going to cry or start sulking but unexpectedly she didn't and just hold on to her teddy bear tighter and sighed. ''I know what you are. Are you going to kill me?''

''Ugh,'' Minako rolled her eyes and waved her hands in the air. ''What do you care, you're dead already.'' She hissed annoyed by the little girl's presence. How annoying for a ghost to bother them. ''Don't give her any attention Michi or else she'll bother you forever. Spirits are so annoying to deal with. Give them one hand and they take your whole arm.'' Obviously she was speaking from experience. ''I curse whatever god gave us demons the power to see the dead.'' With that said she started walking away. ''I'm going to check out this dump for some food. Ya coming?''

Michiru smiled a little. She couldn't help it but feel amused at Minako's reaction to the ghost of the child. Although she was refering to the girl as an annoyance it was obvious Minako was just trying to deal with the fact a little girl got killed by one of her own kind. ''You go on ahead. I'm not into food that much anyway.'' She heard the blonde demon mutter something inaudible before trailing off.

''She's no fun,'' The girl spoke while looking straight into Michiru's blue eyes. ''I'll be nine forever. Always be a single digit. Do you wanna know how I died?''

''Not really.'' Michiru replied and bend down a little to examine the girl. A wave of sadness washed over her when her suspicion was comfirmed. ''You look so much like her. You're Hitomi Tenoh, aren't you?''

The silver haired girl nodded. She cast her eyes down to stare at the ground she could no longer feel beneath her bare feet. ''Will you tell my sister I'm sorry I couldn't there for her when she got back. Tell here I am here and that I can see her. Tell her I'm proud of her.'' Her words didn't fit her small body and earlier demeanor. Those weren't the words of a nine year old.

Michiru could feel something hot stream down her cheeks. Shakingly she moved up her hand to feel what it was exactly. For a moment she thought maybe someone had attacked her and she was bleeding to death but when she pulled her hand back to see if it was blood on her fingers she noticed it wasn't anything like that. She gazed up at the sky but it wasn't raining either. The water had come from her eyes. But why?

She hadn't cried since her father died in her arms so long ago. Surely she wasn't crying now.

''It's okay,'' Hitomi spoke and handed Michiru her teddy bear. ''Here. Maybe this will cheer you up.''

The aqua haired demon faked a smile while reaching out to the stuffed toy with her hand. But just as she expected her hand moved right through it like moving through the air. ''I'm sorry.''

''That's okay too.'' The girl pulled the stuffed animal close to her chest again. ''I forgot.''

''No,'' Michiru whispered. ''That's not what I'm sorry about. You got killed because of my foolishness. Because I couldn't control my own kind. All of your pain and every human on this planet is my fault. I wish Haruka would just kill me but the truth it, I'm not sure if that'll fix everything. I never meant for this to happen.''

Hitomi smiled and shook her head. She didn't seem upset anymore all of a sudden. ''I'm sorry too. I always hated you but you're really nice. You're not like any of them.''

''I'm sorry.'' Michiru repeated feeling her heart break. ''I wish Haruka will forgive me.''

''You didn't kill me. It was that woman. The witch with her guards. They ripped my body into ribbons and took Satoshi's arm. They killed almost half the town that's why everyone is so scared. Will you protect them for me?''

Although Michiru hated the child for putting such a responsibility on her shoulders she couldn't deny. ''What witch?''

''She's a priestess who came to town about a week ago. She said she'd help us with her magic to keep the demons out but instead she let them in. We didn't realize until it was too late. Satoshi blames himself. He was supposed to be the leader of the town but he got us killed. But I do not blame him. None of us do. It was inevitable.''

''Haruka, I'm so sorry.'' Satoshi tried to put his hand on Haruka's shoulder but she pushed it away and backed toward the wall in disbelieve. Everything about Haruka had changed from bad to worse. She wasn't even crying, she just stood there with a blank look on her face. No hatred, no sadness, no anger. Nothing besides that empty stare. Satoshi couldn't help it but feel scared for his own life. The blonde tomboy had no idea how dangerous she looked right now.

''It was all my fault.'' He apologized although he knew it wouldn't make any difference. ''I loved Hitomi too. But I was desperate at that time and was ready to believe just about anything. That witch promised us salvation and we all believed it. You should've seen her, she was so nice and seemed to honest. But I should've know from the start. She was too pretty to be human. They all are.''

''It's ok.'' Haruka said and turned around to reach for the door. ''You did the best you could do.''

''Wait, where are you going?''

He could see the blonde shrug. ''Home. I'm going to rest for the night and tomorrow I'll be on my way. Nothing changed. The queen needs to die. Hitomi's soul will find rest when that happens.'' With that said she left the speechless man alone with his thoughts and moved back to the place she had left Michiru and Minako. She hadn't been away for longer than a couple of hours so she expected them to be where she left them. She should've known better or maybe she just didn't care anymore.

It was dark outside now and there was no sign of the aqua haired girl nor the blonde goddess-like demon. ''Damn those two to hell.'' Haruka muttered and decided it was best to just go to bed. Tomorrow morning she would leave before any of the townspeople woke up. She really didn't want to hear how sorry they were for her loss. It was better if she would be gone from here as soon as possible.

''Hey!'' Suddenly a voice came from behind her causing Haruka to turn around and face Minako. The blonde goddess had a worried look plastered all over her face. Haruka wondered why. During the past few days she hadn't exactly taken her time to even say anything to the blonde girl. Not because she was a demon but because Haruka felt like she had nothing to tell the girl. ''I heard what happened. Are you alright?''

''Yes. I am.'' Came the reply.

''Duh.'' Minako said exasperated. ''You're sister died. Atleast honor her by admitting she meant something.''

''She's with our parents now.''

Minako rolled her eyes. It was obvious Haruka didn't want to talk about it. Unfortunately for the tomboy Minako really didn't care for what Haruka wanted or not. ''Are we going to kill the bitch who did it?''

''No. Leave her. The mission stays the same. The demon queen dies, they all die.'' Haruka replied and moved to walk away but Minako caught her hand and pulled her back into a hug, holding Haruka as tight as she could. Haruka simply was taken off guard, unable to reply or even to pull back. She just let the smaller girl hold her.

''My parents got killed too. Because one of them was a demon and the other a human. But I loved both of them all the same. I tried to hide my feelings too and got to caught up in them because of that. I hated the demon queen so much. I wanted to blame her for everything that had happened but since recently...'' She paused for a moment to swallow away the lump that had formed in her throat. ''I don't feel that way anymore.''

''I'm fine, really.'' Haruka whispered hoarsely. But instead of moving away from the blonde demon Haruka put her arms around Minako as well and rested her head on the other's shoulder. ''I'm just fine.'' She wasn't sure who she was trying to fool, herself or Minako. But she failed miserably when the first tears started to fall and she finally let out a scream that echoed through the whole town.

Michiru who'd been hidden behind a barn looked at the two girls from the shadows, her heart breaking at the sound of Haruka's voice. But that wasn't the only reason why she felt so terrible all of a sudden. It was the scene in front of her that sickened her. Why was Haruka allowing Minako to get so close?

To Be Continued

Everyone, thank you so much for reviewing and sticking to this story. I'm already halfway done with the next chapter so it'll be up soon. I'm debating on having Hitomi's ghost help out our heroes in the future but I'm not sure yet. Maybe I'll have her move on eventually. Anyway, share your opinions with me. For example, any guesses on who the priestess might be?