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

AN: So, apparently, not a lot of you liked the previous chapter. Oh well… I'm finishing this, with or without your approval :)

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"In other news, two additional bodies were found today. One belonging to the up and coming new acting sensation, Minako Aino and the other belonging to Makoto Kino, a budding culinary star. According to police reports, their bodies were found together in the park. The two appeared to have been on a late night jog when they were brutally attacked. This happening less than a week since the discovery of the slaughter at Hikawa Jinja where Rei Hino was found amongst other victims, and Ami Mizuno, daughter of Dr. Mizuno, a prized surgeon in Tokyo, was found murdered in her home. All four girls were said to have been friends, and the reason to their murder is still under investigation. If you have any information regarding the crimes, please contact the police…"

"They are picking off her friends one by one," Sebastian spoke offhandedly as he poured Ciel a fresh cup of English tea. His master was not fond of the tea preferred in Japan, and insisted on having his favorite English tea for each meal.

"Have you learned anything yet?" Ciel questioned with a sharp glance towards his servant. Scattered across Ciel's desk were several folders, each contained information on the girl's that had been murdered, as well as information on other friends and relatives of Usagi Tsukino. It was all the information that the two had to go with since the reapers refused to talk.

"No," Sebastian answered honestly, knowing what was to come. He was not surprised when his master threw everything off of the giant desk, scattering the carefully gathered information into a messy pile on the floor. "The actions of the reapers are being kept tightly sealed. Not even under the most …strenuous of circumstances will make one speak a word of what they are planning."

Ciel glared at a spot on the wall. He knew Sebastian spoke the truth because he had borne witness to the torment Sebastian had laid on one reaper. The man had refused to utter a word, he didn't even scream as Sebastian ripped him limb from limb, leaving a bloody mess in his wake. Regardless of how many reapers were torn apart at the hands of the two demons, none would talk. It irritated Ciel to no end.

It also did not help that neither he nor Sebastian had seen hide nor hair from the Undertaker, Will, or Grell. It was truly troublesome.

"What would you like to do?" Sebastian questioned his master.

"We will have to wait and see what our opponent's will do next," Ciel stated with a huff. He sank back to his chair, waiting for Sebastian to reorganize the papers and lay them back on his desk. "We know it has to do with Usagi, so if we keep close to her, we will learn soon enough what they have planned."

…

"We can't just sit here and wait!" Haruka yelled in frustration. She was pacing the floor anxiously. The inner scouts were dead, Chibi-Usa was missing, Mamoru was all but useless from his depression and denial, and Usagi was comatose. "It is obvious they are targeting the senshi. We may not have been as close to her as the inners, but there is no way they will look over us."

"We don't even know for sure that it is Usagi they are after," Michiru commented gently. She did not want to anger her lover further. Haruka was upset from worry and frustration. She had such a strong personality, and to feel so helpless was not something Haruka was used to nor that she enjoyed.

"What else is there?" Haruka demanded of Michiru. "Why kill all of the others when Usagi, the strongest of us all, lies helpless and vulnerable in the hospital? Why leave her alive?" Haruka continued her pacing, stopping only once to slam her fist into the wall. "And where the hell is Setsuna?"

"I don't know," Michiru answered softly, knowing Haruka never really expected an answer.

"I can't stand to wait here any longer. If Setsuna won't come to us or answer us, then I'm going to her," Haruka turned on heel and went in search for the time key that Setsuna had left them. Michiru was fast to follow. "Stay here with Hotaru. I'll be back with Setsuna."

"Are you sure this is such a good idea?" Michiru questioned in concern. Her mirror was in hand as she tried once more to see the time gates. The view was blocked from her and she felt unsettled at the thought of Haruka leaving her.

"We don't have any other choice," Haruka reached out to pull Michiru close for a tight embrace. She kissed the brow of Michiru's head and told her to stay close to Hotaru. "I'll be back soon, promise." Haruka sent her lover a smile before moving to another room and speaking the enchantment that would send her to the time gates.

"I didn't think she would ever leave," A voice spoke from behind Michiru, startling her and causing her to drop her mirror. Neptune's mirror clattered to the floor reflecting the ceiling, which was soon splattered with blood as the sound of a large engine roared to life.

…

Haruka stumbled as she appeared at the gates. A chill swept through her as a dense fog floated through the space surrounding her. Something was wrong, she could sense it. Without giving it a second thought, Haruka transformed into Sailor Uranus. The glowing energy was enough to banish some of the fog once her transformation was through. Uranus could see the path that led to the gates, and she ran forward as fast as her body could carry her.

"Pluto!" She screamed but her call went unanswered. The fog continued to circle around her as she drew closer to the gates. She eventually saw the figure of Pluto standing right before the gates, and she breathed a sigh of relief as she slowed her pace. Maybe all of her worry was for naught.

"You had us worried," Uranus chuckled nervously. "Why haven't you answered us?" There was no answer and Uranus felt a sense of dread. The air around this place was strange. It was so thick; it was not normal. "Pluto?" She took several more steps forward, but the form of the other senshi did not move, and the fog prevented Uranus from seeing her clearly.

Another step forward caused Uranus' foot to slip, nearly making her fall and causing her to curse. Blinking in confusion, she knelt down and placed her fingers to the ground. Though it was dark, she could make out the red stain on her glove as she lifted it to her face. Uranus suddenly felt faint as she stood and looked towards her friend. Summoning power to her hand, light erupted and the fog moved away, presenting Uranus with the sight of Pluto impaled on her own staff. The end of it locked within the keyhole of the gates, and pinning Pluto against the doors.

Uranus fell to her knees, bent over, and hurled. The look of pure terror on her friend's face, a look that would forever be frozen in her death, shook Uranus' soul to the core. If Pluto could not escape it, how would they? Shaking, Uranus stood, and cringed as the coagulated blood clung to her skin. Tears ran down her cheeks, and her chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath. Slowly, she approached her friend and comrade, lifted her hand, and forced Pluto's eyes to close. The action left a blood trail over the normally pristine face.

Feeling the urge to hurl again, Uranus backed away quickly before turning and running from the scene of horror. She screamed as she ran, venting her fear, frustration, and helplessness all at once. Uranus knew that death was coming for her. It was coming for her and her family. With the time key clasped tightly in hand, she returned to her home, covered in blood only to find her lover dead and Hotaru missing.

It was then that the Senshi of Wind collapsed. Her heart shattered at the sight of her love dead on the floor. Eyes that had been so full of life now gazing up in a mirror look of horror that resembled Pluto's. In a motion that was almost mechanical, Uranus summoned her sword. So lost in despair and confusion, she didn't think twice as she brought the sword's point to herself, impaling it beneath her sternum and leaving her to bleed out as she moved to her lover's side. Uranus curled behind Michiru, clutching tightly to the blue haired beauty and crying into her hair until Uranus ceased to breathe any longer.

…

Mamoru stumbled through the hallways, making his way to the room that held his beautiful fiancé. How long ago had it been since he had gazed into her beautiful eyes? How long since he had heard her happy and care free voice call his name in delight? As he passed through the halls, some of the nursing staff stopped to watch. He had been a prospering medical student, and many hospitals had been preparing to offer him high positions once he had finished his studies in America. Now, however, the man that once was, now as no more.

As soon as his form entered the room of Usagi Tsukino, the halls filled with the sounds of whispers.

"Usako," Mamoru whispered dejectedly as he took residence next to her. His hands sought one of hers, clasping it tightly. She had not moved, but at least her condition was stable. With every passing of her friends, something went wrong. Usagi was reacting to her loss, even in her condition. Mamoru laid his head down on his hands which covered hers. For the first time since visiting her, he sobbed openly. His whole body shook terribly as he allowed all of his fears finally free.

"Please," He pleaded as he looked upon her. Right now, lying like she was in that bed, she resembled so much the sleeping Queen from the 31st century. Mamoru now understood how utterly hopeless his future self had felt, and he no longer blamed him for causing them heart ache in the past. Mamoru reached out a hand and swept away some silver strands from her face. Her hair had been changing colors since the murders began. It was slowly turning silvery-white.

In his mind, he remembered from the last battle, when his mind had been warped, a figure of silver, standing tall and proud, but also broken. Sailor Moon had been there too. She was a bright light of hope compared to the dull and lusterless figure of sorrow that stood beside her. Was this the fate of his love? To become the shell of a person that had been there the day of the last battle?

Why had they not been warned then of what was to come? Had the guardian of the Cauldron not foreseen this? If they had, why would they allow it to come to pass? And, if they hadn't, why were they allowing it to happen? What had happened to the bright and shinning future he and the others had visited? The one where his beautiful baby girl would one day flea in order to come and find Sailor Moon, the only one capable of saving her mother, Neo-Queen Serenity?

"Prince," A voice suddenly broke the silence and pulled Mamoru from Usagi's side. He stood and turned to find a full grown Hotaru standing before him. In this state, she looked very much like Mistress 9, only her hair was much shorter, and her eyes did not hold the evil that was Mistress 9. No, they held concern, fear, and anxiousness.

"Hotaru?" Mamoru's voice was raspy from his crying.

"We have to move," Hotaru reached out, grabbing his hand and pulling him. Mamoru stumbled forward, but pulled at her grip. "There is no time to waste. If we do not hurry, then we will not be able to stop this."

"Stop what?" Mamoru questioned, eyes narrowing. He had known of Hotaru's state of unconsciousness. Hotaru and Michiru had notified him and the senshi when the young girl had fallen into that state. It was eerily similar to Usagi's own, except for the glowing of Saturn's sigil. "What is happening?"

"I will tell you all I can, but we need to move or we will endanger the Princess," Hotaru insisted as she tugged harder, actually forcing him to move with her. It wasn't necessary, at the thought of his Usako in danger, Mamoru hurried with her. Hotaru had never been one of whom to not take seriously. She was the Messiah of Death and Rebirth. The two hurried through the halls, ignoring everyone around them.

"The others are dead, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto," Hotaru stated low under her breath as she continued to lead Mamoru away from the hospital. They needed to put as much space between themselves and Usagi as possible. "You and I are the only ones left, and if we cannot escape death, then the whole world will be doomed."

"What are you talking about? Doomed? Doomed how?" Mamoru demanded. He reached out to grasp Hotaru's arm, pulling her to a stop. His tall form toward over her, but she would not be intimidated. Looking around, Hotaru checked to see if they were being followed. They weren't, but they were being watched.

She could see them all. The reapers who had gathered.

Tugging Mamoru to the side, she quickly informed him to the fact that they were being watched. He was shocked and in disbelief. He could not see anyone. "I am the Messiah of Death and Rebirth. To them, I am their God, but they do not fear me. No, they will end me if given the chance. You and I are the only ones left in their way. They will come for us. We cannot let them succeed."

"If they are around us like you claim," Mamoru stated as he followed after Hotaru who was now returning to her fast pace. "Then why are they not acting against us now?"

"They are too weak. You and I are more powerful than they, and so they wait and report to more powerful reapers. The only ones of whom can hope to destroy their God and the one blessed by the planet of which they reside." She informed, not caring who heard. Hotaru knew, on some level of understanding, that the hope she clung to was futile. Nothing and no one could save them, but it didn't mean she couldn't take out as many of the bastards as possible before she went down.

The two made their way to the tower and no one came for them. By the time they reached it, the sun was setting. A chill was creeping through the air, and Mamoru had a sense of déjà vu. This was where he first remembered who he was. This was where he was stolen from Usagi right as she regained her memories. It was where so many battles were fought… it was where the palace would one day stand. At least, that is what he hoped, though he felt and knew it was for naught.

"Come on," Hotaru urged as she lead him to the stairs that would lead them to the top. She had to get them as far away from other people as possible. Urging him continuously, Hotaru ran up the stairs with Mamoru close behind. She thought they had enough time, but she was wrong. As the door to the top slammed opened, Hotaru was greeted with the sight of three reapers, one silver, another red, and the last black. They stood at the ready and Hotaru's heart sunk.

"What the hell?" Mamoru gasped as he reached the top.

"It is an honor," the one in black spoke. He had black hair and bright green eyes hidden behind simple glasses. "Goddess."

The one with silver hair bowed mockingly, and the one in red gave no recognition other than a sneer. Hotaru's hand brought forth her transformation pen, and with a few words, she stood in her highest form as Sailor Saturn. "I would transform, Prince." Saturn spoke and Mamoru needed no other word. He instantly transformed into Prince Endymion. In his hands he held his sword at the ready.

Clouds rolled through the skies, circulating around the tower. Thunder roared and lightning lit up the sky. Rain fell like a waterfall from the sky, crashing to the earth and soaking the city to its core. People ran for cover, cowering in whatever building they could find as the earth began to tremble as well. No one knew what was going to happen, and they all looked towards the distance, where Saturn's attacks lit up the sky in a brilliantly dark purple.

…

Sebastian and Ciel had been in Usagi's room, entering soon after the departure of Mamoru and Hotaru, when the chaos began. The lights of the hospital began to flicker as the quakes of the earth threatened to bring down every building that stood. Screams filled the hall ways as people, visitors and staff alike, became frightened and unknowing of what to do or what was happening.

Ciel ran to the window and looked to the streets. There were more reapers outside the hospital than there had been when he and Sebastian had entered. He could hardly see the pavement for the number of reapers. What startled him most was how each and every one of them were looking up and meeting Ciel's gaze expectantly.

"What the hell?" Ciel demanded as he turned to look at the woman who resembled his mother. "Just who the hell is she?"

…

Endymion was the first to fall. His armor and his sword were no match for the power of Grell's chain saw. It easily tore through him, ripping flesh from bone, and sending a spray of blood forward. Some of it coated the front of Grell's clothes, making him coo affectionately as he taunted the dying man.

"Not even a rose could match the beauty of your blood as it paints the night," Grell chuckled.

His two other companions were busy with their Goddess who was putting up quite a fight. She seemed to be refusing to follow her path. She refused to die and had even managed to wound Will, leaving a weeping gash in his arm that nearly reached the bone.

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In the chaos, no one came to check on Usagi Tsukino, even as the monitors, which flickered on and off, came to life with noise. Only Sebastian and Ciel bore witness as the woman's body began to change. A silver glow encased her as her golden locks drained of all color, her skin paled, body grew and filled to proportion, and still the light continued to glow brightly. It didn't stop, even when the light threatened to burn the skin of the two demons.

Usagi Tsukino continued to glow as an eight pointed star slowly came to life on her brow.

…

Saturn fought back the tears that threatened to stain her vision. She could see and hear them, each and every one of her friends who had been brutally murdered. The reapers could not reach past her shield, but they could reach past her emotional barriers. Using a magic long thought to be lost to all others but her, Chaos, and Cosmos, they summoned the souls of her friends and family.

She watched over and over as they were murdered, heard the anguished cries, and their desperate pleas. Slowly, with every scream, her barrier weakened. It chipped away as her emotional and spiritual resolve wavered. When they replayed the horror of Pluto's death, that was all it took to bring the barrier crashing down. Saturn's glaive clamored to the floor and she fell to her knees beside of it.

"Rejoice," the one with silver hair spoke to her, but Saturn paid him no mind. She watched in horror as Pluto had her staff stolen from her hands. Her attacks had proven useless. She had fallen quickly, having been drained from fighting the storm. "Your death holds meaning. This world shall be reborn and with it, a new beginning and a new end. No longer will you fight. Your soul will rest eternally as the dust of your bones helps to mold the new world."

Saturn did not pay him any mind, even as he lifted his own glaive and swung it down. Her eyes remained locked on the transparent image of Sailor Pluto who was screaming for Chibi-Usa even as her own weapon pierced through her abdomen, plunging through to the other side, and pinning her to the doors that she had been chained to long ago.

The slice of the blade was like a gentle breeze, and Saturn smiled, even as a bloody line formed around her neck. Whisps of black hair that had once touched her shoulders now fell to the ground. Her beautiful locks were now even with the blood line which a trail of tears down her chest.

"It is done," Will spoke as the woman's body fell forward. The head disconnecting from the body as gravity took hold.

In the distance, towards the center of the city, eyes of glowing silver snapped open and a bright light, hot as the fires of hell, erupted from the body that had once been Usagi Tsukino….

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Well, damn, I'm messing up everything, aren't I? I assumed none of you enjoyed the details from the last chapter, so I tried to cut back on it, even though I enjoyed such details. I am a person who likes to paint a picture, but I guess that picture was too much for some of you. Sorry.

I hope that you find this more to your liking. I'm not sure that you will, but I will see based on the reviews you shall leave me. Were any of you surprised at what I did? I know a few of you won't be. I'm sure those who read this will wonder what will happen next. Let me tell you, it is going to get crazy.

If you want to see what goes down, review. I won't update till I hit 50 reviews. Yeah, I'm holding this story hostage!

Sesshy's Mistress