Breathless

Sesshy's Mistress

Summary: He could hardly recall the last time he had gazed into those familiar blue eyes. Even now as he stood watching her, he could hardly believe what his eyes were showing him. It was in that instant when their eyes met that he knew for certain it was her-the same eyes, the same smile, and the same face. It was all the same…

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters

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...

It had been two weeks since Usagi's body had been found in the park. It had taken two days before someone had come across her unconscious body hidden along the edge of the trees and shrubbery. When they did find her, no one was able to revive her. As far as her body was concerned, there was nothing keeping her from waking.

She was currently being kept in the hospital under close observance while doctors struggled to find the answer to her condition. Her family continuously worried, and her mother was a constant at her side. It made it hard for Sebastian or Ciel to find a way to visit without others being present. It had been they that had found her.

As for Chibi-Usa, she had disappeared completely and any evidence of her ever having visited disappeared, including pictures of her and memories of her from friends and family. It was almost as if she had never existed in the first place. Usagi's condition coupled with the disappearance of Chibi-Usa had the senshi on edge. Mamoru, who had been due to return to the states, had decided to stay. His emotional state was unstable. Losing Chibi-Usa and having Usagi unresponsive was taxing on his body.

No one had seen or heard from Setsuna, either. The senshi had tried to contact her on several occasions, but she never once answered their calls or responded to their pleadings left on voicemails. Not even Uranus, Neptune, or Saturn knew where to find her. Meanwhile, Amy spent almost all of her time bent over her Mercury computer.

No matter how much time she spent searching, there were no results that could explain what was happening. The sacred fire could not answer questions for Rei, either. With Setsuna missing, and both Amy and Rei's searches turning up empty, all hope was beginning to seem lost. If only they knew what the future held for them.

Sailor Pluto cringed as she fought against the massive storm that had appeared within the gates. She had returned from visiting with Usagi to find everything in Chaos. The flow of time was no longer stable. Different branches of the time stream began to appear and disappear. The future that she had been carefully helping to plan and construct was gone. Crystal Tokyo, Neo-Queen Serenity, and Chibi-Usa - they were all gone!

Pluto had felt herself go numb when she realized that she could possibly never see the beautiful pink-haired princess again. Tears had welled within her maroon colored eyes, and then anger like she had never felt began to boil inside of her. As guardian of the gates, she was limited in what she could do and what she was allowed to experience. Chibi-Usa had been a true blessing, and she was not happy with having that bright star of hope ripped away from her.

With a strength that she had not known that she possessed, Pluto had stormed to the gates, slamming her staff into the door repeatedly. Angry cries echoed through the empty space that surrounded her, but she still beat at the door that had locked itself to her since she began her search.

For hours she cried out to Cronos, begging for him to answer her pleas and aid her in finding the answers to the questions that plagued her and the others. She had felt it when Usagi fell and Chibi-Usa disappeared. She could literally feel the time stream unravel and rewrite itself over and over. She could not see the future as before, but she had a foreboding sense that lingered over her.

Whatever had set into motion this change would leave a lasting impact on the world. That thought alone terrified her to her core. A fear like no other captured her heart in an iron cage. She felt suffocated under the pressure of it all, and right as she began to open a portal and return to her comrades, the storm began.

...

"Such a shame, really," Grell spoke to himself as he watched the group of girls converse in the park with a dark haired and very haggard looking man. Grell was currently occupying a large tree, balancing himself on one of the sturdier branches. He had spent the day following the group, and he had not failed to give an appreciative one over to the dark haired man with the striking blue eyes.

Grell's green eyes glinted in the light as he regarded the group. In all honesty, Grell found it hard to believe that those girls, along with the one stricken in the hospital, were so powerful. If they were so powerful, powerful enough to defeat Chaos, then how could they not sense the growing change in the air?

Grell began to twirl a strand of hair, watching and waiting like many other reapers who were currently occupying Tokyo.

...

"You two shouldn't be here," William spoke as he appeared in the room of Usagi Tsukino. The mother had been forced home. Her body exhausted from continuously staying by her daughter's side. When she refused, the hospital had called the husband with warning of tranquilizing the distraught woman if she was not taken home to rest.

Sebastian and Ciel turned their gaze towards the reaper. Neither seemed to care for his appearance unlike how upset William seemed to be at their presence. "She is not your concern, and you have caused enough trouble as is," He spoke while adjusting his glasses. Today he was without his scythe.

"Why are so many reapers present in the city?" Sebastian questioned as he turned to give William his full attention.

"Filth such as you shouldn't concern yourself with Reaper matters," William all but spat in disgust. On the bed, Usagi groaned and a light began to emanate from her brow. This caught the attention of all three males. William strode forward, shoving Ciel out of the way to exam the mark on her brow.

"It's becoming clearer," he muttered to himself with a frown.

"Indeed," the Undertaker spoke with a grin as he appeared in the room as well. His form leaned over Usagi from the opposite side of the bed. "Beautiful isn't it, William?"

"Just what the hell is going on here?" Ciel demanded as the Undertaker appeared as well. Neither Ciel nor Sebastian could figure out why the Reapers were hovering around Usagi and the city. The two reapers removed their gazes from one another to look upon Ciel.

"Don't say a word," William interrupted as the Undertaker had opened his mouth to reply to the young demon. "You have caused enough troubles already with your stunt." He nodded towards the unconscious girl where the sigil on her brow had begun to fade again.

"Would you rather she interferes?" The Undertaker tilted his head to the side in curiosity. "You know she would not be one to sit around while the sufferings of others are taking place, especially if she is at fault."

"Sebastian," Ciel snapped, and the other demon moved fluidly throughout the room. In an instance, his set of knives was at the ready, digging into the skin of William's neck. A thin line of blood appeared and traced the edge of Sebastian's blades.

"Such a spoiled, petulant, brat you are," William spoke as his sharp green eyes bet with the blood red one's of Ciel. William completely ignored Sebastian and the blades currently pressing against his throat. "So much suffering at the hands of someone so spoiled, that they sacrifice millions of live for the sake of their own, perverse satisfaction."

"Stop speaking such nonsense!" Ciel demanded as his anger grew until his emotions manifested into dark energy which swam around him in a red haze. "I demand you tell me what it is that is happening. NOW!"

"Why else would so many reapers be gathered? Do you think this is the only place which we have converged? You are a fool! You could not heed the warning, and for that, millions of lives are at risk, all for the sake of your own happiness," William glared, and the heat of that glare, of that hate, caused Ciel to stumble back in shock. He had never seen the stoic reaper so angry. The man hardly ever showed any emotion excluding disgust for demons.

"The worst part is, it is already too late to repair the damage your presence has wrought on this world," William's eyes softened as he turned his gaze towards the sleeping woman on the bed. "Had it not been for the selfish wish of that other brat, you would have been consumed, and none of this would have happened. You were meant to die, Ciel Phantomhive, but someone intervened."

"Trancy-"

"That brat was even more spoiled and delusional than even you!" William spat. "He was killed in the aftermath that slaughtered that village, but someone stole his soul and his body from us."

"Is this true?" Sebastian drew back and turned towards the Undertaker who nodded in agreement. "Who would hold that kind of power?" Sebastian questioned himself.

"We had assumed it was that demon woman, but her powers were too inferior to have deceived the reapers," the Undertaker commented from his sitting position on Usagi's bed. He had the young woman's hand in his lap now, and his own hand gently traced her fingers, stopping at the engagement ring to tap the gem of it thoughtfully.

"We never did find out who it was, but they were powerful, more than even an angel," William admitted disdainfully.

"So what happens now?" Ciel questioned as he drew his gaze back to the reincarnation of his mother.

"Death." William answered.

...

Rei sat before the sacred fire. Her body was drenched in sweat and her face scrunched into an expression of deep concentration. For hours she had sat before the fire, begging silently for it to give her answers to the feelings that plagued her night and day. Every sense Usagi's accident, Rei had felt as if she was being watched, but she could never find who it was that watched her. She voiced her opinion to the others, but they had not sensed anything at all.

Rei cursed as her body collapsed forward. She propped herself up by her hands, which were cramped from the continuous motions she used during her chants and prayers. Tears flooded her eyes as pain erupted in her skull. For days she had felt weakened. She had also assumed that to be the stress and worry she had felt over Usagi and Chibi-Usa.

Reaching a hand up, she covered her heart, which was beating erratically. After taking several more deep breaths, she looked up to the fire, anger lighting her eyes as she regarded it. Why was it failing now of all times? Steadying her resolve, she fell back into position after a few more deep breaths. She started over, chanting as her hands flashed quickly into different positions. Rei poured all of her energy into the motions, forcing every ounce of power as a senshi into this request, and finally, her prayers were answered.

When her eyes snapped open, the fire showed her something that made her heart stop. It was a crude shadow of a man, and in his hands was a scythe. Around him lay bodies, but not just any bodies, the bodies of her friends and family. Blood pooled around his feet as the wind swept his hair around his form.

Rei cried out in shock and fell backward. She pushed herself away from the flames which lashed out towards her. Tears trailed down her face as she shivered from her position against the wall.

"No… no, no, no, no, no!" Rei grasped her head as she shook it in denial. Never before had the fire deceived her. It's predictions never failed to become reality. In the distance, Rei heard the sound of a chain saw roar to life, but her mind was numb to it, until she heard the screams coming from the other side of the temple.

It was the scream of her grandfather.

Reaching into her robes, she grabbed her transformation pen as she ran. Her feet pounded the ground as she forced herself to move faster. Rei whispered her transformation as she went, feeling the familiar heat wrap around her before dispersing and leaving her in her fuku. It finished just in time, because as she turned the corner, she stopped dead in her tracks. There, in front of the temple, lay the bodies of several young girls and her grandfather. They were mutilated beyond anything she had ever seen. Blood was everywhere, and portions of the girls were scattered around the area.

"Rei, run!" Yuichiro screamed right before a man in red tore appeared behind the brown haired man.

"Yuichiro!" Mars screamed with all her might as the red haired man swung a huge, bloodied chainsaw through Yuichiro's side. The spinning blades tore through flesh and bone, spraying blood everywhere as it savagely tore the young man apart. Mars screamed as she rushed forward. She knew it was too late and there was nothing she could do. She could hardly even see through the tears that flooded her vision.

"Well, well, well," the man in red chided as he kicked Yuichiro's upper half towards Mars. "Did I upset you?" The man's grin stopped Mars dead in her tracks. His teeth were sharp like a shark, and his green eyes nearly glowed in the aftermath of the slaughter. Anger engulfed her, and in her hands, fire leapt to life.

"You… you… you son of a bitch!" Mars screamed as she rushed forward, fist raised and flaming. The man chuckled and dodged her easily. "Stand still you bastard," she ordered as she threw fire towards him. Her aim was thrown off by the impairment of her vision, and as she moved to take another swing at him, her heels caught on one of the pieces of a girl. The arm rolled under her foot, causing Mars to lose her balance and fall into the puddle of blood.

The thick liquid clung to her, painting her entire form in the gory substance. Mars choked back a sob and felt bile rise in the back of her throat. She was covered in the blood of those innocent girls and, as she looked to the side, her grandfather's horrified face met her, and that was all that was needed to send her body into shock.

She gagged as her stomach emptied its contents, and idly she could hear the sounds of footsteps come closer to her. Only when a shadow fell across her did she look up. "Why?" She questioned through her tears.

"Why?" The man parroted as he knelt down. His hands brushed the hair from her face, caressing the blood coated skin softly. "Because, my dear, red is such a gorgeous color," He grinned at the look of outrage on her face, but she did not move. She was too broken to move. "That, and we can't summon her unless you and your friends perish…permanently…" He grinned again as he stood. "But don't worry, you'll be with your loved ones soon enough, and as for the others, they'll be joining you shortly." He brought life back into the chainsaw and forced the end of it through her chest.

Her eyes were wide and, even with her mouth filling with blood, she still managed to whisper one last thing before the end, "…Usagi…"

...

"It's starting," The Undertaker spoke as he stood from the bed. He had abandoned Usagi's hand, which was currently burning hotly. Sweat covered her form as a red sigil blazed upon her brow. Ciel and Sebastian looked on as the monitors in her room started to beep loudly. Outside her doors, nurses rushed forward along with several others.

"Until next time," William spoke as he and the Undertaker disappeared, leaving the two demons to themselves when the medical personnel appeared.

"You need to leave," One of the nurses ordered as the others rushed to the bed.

"Her pulse is 150 and climbing! BP 180/120," the nurse closest to the monitor spoke horrified. Another nurse gasped upon touching Usagi's body.

"We need an ice bath stat!" she announced, and the nurses in the room quickly moved into action. Ciel and Sebastian left the room, giving the medical staff the room they needed.

...

"Did you have to make such a mess?' William questioned Grell as he appeared at the shrine. The dark haired reaper made sure to avoid any of the mess as he moved around to spot the one he was looking for. It wasn't as easy with her body saturated in blood and chest torn open. "I also remember telling you I wanted her in good condition."

"It wasn't my fault," Grell pouted. "She refused to die. Hey, where is Undertaker?" Grell questioned as he had come accustomed to referring to the other reaper as so as habit from Ciel and Sebastian.

"Currently taking care of something else," William spoke as he adjusted his glasses before pulling out his book and beginning to make note of the records. "I would ask you to carry her," he pointed his pen towards Mars' body. "Back but I doubt you would even be able to do that properly."

"I am so unappreciated!" Grell cried as he tugged on his hair. All of his hard work, this beautiful masterpiece, was all for not! Life was so cruel!

...

Ami was currently glued to her computer, trying in vain to figure out what was happening. She had tried and failed to contact Pluto many times. The rest of the Outers were clueless, and even more disturbing, Saturn, who had retained a childlike form, had grown over night. She had also fallen into a trance. Her body rigid on the bed, eyes wide open and glowing purple, and her planetary system pulsing rapidly. Uranus and Neptune were frantic.

Ami heard the door to the house open, and she turned to address her mother who should have been home by now. Instead, she found a very handsome man with long silver hair with a long, rugged scar crossing his face. His green eyes bore into her own blue ones, and she felt her heart still.

"Sorry to intrude," He smiled, and she felt a chill surround her. Something about this man wasn't right. Though he seemed harmless, she felt as if she should be running, but her body refused to move. "I really hate to do this, but there isn't really anything else I can do now." He stepped closer, and Ami pushed herself back. Her chair rolled into the desk, where her Mercury computer sat hooked up to her laptop. The screen of her laptop flashed as information finally pulled up.

Leaning down, the silver haired man read the screen with a smirk. "Too bad you didn't get that information beforehand. You and the others might have stood a chance." His words broke her from her stupor, and she lunged to the side.

The man chuckled as the girl searched her pockets in vain.

"Looking for this?" He questioned as he pulled a familiar blue object seemingly out of thin air. "Sorry, this isn't the first time I've been in here. You should really be more careful where you leave this. You never know who will find it."

"What do you want?!" Ami demanded as she fell into a fighting stance. She wasn't Makoto, but she could hold her own for a few. At least, she hoped she could long enough for one of the others to reach her. During her search, she had found her watch which hid in her back pocket. She pressed the emergency button when she couldn't find her transformation pen.

"Nothing from you, really," Ami watched as the man pocketed her pen. In its place, a scythe appeared. The long blade glistened in the light of the room. Ami's eyes widened in horror. That familiar feeling engulfed her again. This man wasn't human. He couldn't be. "It will be so much easier if you just accept this. There isn't any other way. Your other friend, the fire one, fought and suffered at my companion's hand."

"Rei…" Ami gasped.

"Yes," the man nodded. "Of course, Grell isn't one for restraint. A shame really, she was so lovely. I'm not like him though, my lovely. I will ensure that the beauty of your death is not wasted by such a mutilation."

"Please don't," Ami felt her voice crack. She was defenseless. Her eyes darted around, trying in vain to find something to use as a shield or weapon, but there was nothing within reach and the man was coming closer.

"Sorry," he sang through a smile as he brought his blade down upon her. The tip sank into her chest and a light erupted just as a scream broke free from her throat. "Don't despair. Your sacrifice is a worthy one, and even in death you will shine through her."

...

That night, the planet and the stars wept for the loss of two great warriors and protectors. Still, even as storms raged, countless reapers stood silently, watching through the night and waiting for the inevitable. Meanwhile, two demons kept close watch over one, Usagi Tsukino, as her condition continued to fluctuate, leaving doctors and nurses stunned and stumped.

...

Okay, so I got lazy towards the end. Sue me! I'm taking a keyboarding class so it's not like I want to come home and type even more… jeeze…

Review or else!

Sesshy's Mistress