I know, I'm sorry. I promised you guys two chapters yesterday. But my back was still a little sore yesterday and hubby stayed home with me. All I did was pour some hot water into my tea pot and bam! I was having to get help to the couch! I looked it up though and apparently back strains are the most common back problem and can happen at any point in your life. So now that my back feels much better ad I don't feel super old, here are THREE chapters to make you guys feel better. I will be posting through out the day so expect two more updates today. Thank you guys again for your reviews they really keep me going. Also thanks for all your concerns. My back is "back" to normal!
The Truth About Tragedy
Ch. 10
"The darker the night, the brighter the stars,
The deeper the grief, the closer is God!"
- Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
Okay, she had to come clean. It would be good right? If she told them about the dreams, they could help her and she could go back to being normal instead of a zombie. Today would be her best chance, no work, giving her plenty of time to tell them the problem and have them fix it all before bed time. Mamoru was at his usual post at the counter when she entered the arcade. Luna had been spending her days and nights in central command. It left her pretty lonely at night but at least she hadn't been there last night for her meeting with Tuxedo Kamen. Things just seemed to be getting worse between the Senshi and him, no one trusted each other. If she told them that he knew her identity it would either help her plight or blow up in her face. She was able to sneak down into control with no one in the arcade the wiser. Luna, Makoto, Rei, and Ami were all there squinting at the computer screen. Ami was typing away furiously while the others sat by shooting out questions or answers.
"So the more we awaken, the more of our former lives we will remember right?"
"Yes Rei. When you have fully awakened as the Senshi you once were you will remember everything. Including me."
"So you don't remember either Luna?"
"Sadly, Makoto, no. If I did, maybe I would be more help with locating the silver crystal and the princess."
"So why haven't we awakened? What is standing in our way?"
"Maybe there is one more person we are waiting for Makoto."
They all turned to her voice.
"Usagi?! When did you get here?"
"Glad to see you too Rei. Maybe we are waiting for another Senshi or the princess to reveal themselves. What about Sailor V? She could be a real Senshi?"
"That's a good thought Usagi."
"Thanks Luna, but next time try not to sound so surprised."
"You know there's no meeting today right Usagi? You could have just gone home and gotten some rest."
"I know Ami, but...I really need to talk to you guys."
Excitement and happiness flashed across their faces. Had she really been shutting them out that much? She told them everything, from the first dream to the invisible foe on the street. She told them how she had been waking at 1:34 every night and was tormented for the rest of the night. She even told them about her last dream and how Mamoru saved her from certain death.
"I will need to do some research. Until then Usagi, you shouldn't sleep alone. You may even need to keep your current sleep schedule till I can figure it out."
Ami then turned to the computer and began to type in searches and variables akin to her problems. Luna stayed with Ami while Usagi and the other two Senshi made their way tot the surface. It was late and the arcade was almost empty. The three girls sat at their usual booth and waited for any word from Ami and Luna.
"Why did you wait so long to tell us Usagi." Makoto asked dejectedly.
"I'm sorry. I just thought it was stress or something. If I thought it was serious I would have told you sooner."
She leaned over in the booth to spot Mamoru still at the counter. Was he waiting for her or something? She asked the girls if they wanted anything and left to make their orders. She stood right next to him unafraid of their closeness. He didn't move an inch. It was like a game, who would break first. Neither said a word till Motoki appeared.
"Oh, hey Usagi. When did you get here?"
She took a quick glance at Mamoru, "A few minutes ago."
A huff came out of the guarded man next to her. Usagi ordered the drinks and fries her friends had asked for and soon the two were alone once again.
"So did you tell them?"
"Excuse me?"
"Your dreams. Did you tell them?"
She had to shake the feeling of deja va from her head once again. It was so weird, Mamoru asking her about telling the Senshi about her dreams when Tuxedo Kamen had been the one to get her to tell them in the first place. But Mamoru doesn't know they are Senshi.
"What good would it do if I did tell them?"
"Maybe they can help you."
"Help me how? They are just dreams Mamoru."
She was spared the upcoming argument as her food arrived and she quickly made her escape. However, as soon as she set the food in front of her friends, their communicators all went off. Ami's face popped up on the screen.
"Guys, we just got a reading off of my new program for tracking the enemy. It's getting a surge of negative energy at the playground in Azabu Park. Luna and I will meet you there."
The girls quickly left the arcade, telling Motoki they would be right back. As soon as the doors shut behind them, they high tailed it towards the park.
It was dark. There wasn't even a moon to cast a small glow on them as they entered the deserted playground. She remembered the last time she had been here. Mamoru had sat next to her on those swings. The snow was long gone at this point but the air was still freezing cold. The wind bit at her exposed skin in her fuku.
The three cautiously entered the park, waiting for all hell to break loose but nothing happened. Luna and Ami soon showed and as soon as their feet touched the springy ground of the playground, the other shoe dropped. A dark mass began to form at the base of the slide, growing and growing as it sucked in cold air. It was like a worm hole had appeared in the middle of the park. The girls each grabbed onto something, holding themselves steady and grabbing Luna.
After about 5 minutes, it stopped and disappeared leaving the air thick with unease. A high pitched laugh sliced through the silence. It sounded like a nervous school girl with a cold. It was awful.
"Welcome, welcome Sailor Senshi. Although I didn't invite you, I will be more than happy to take your energy for my Queen."
In a flash, Mars was sent flying across the monkey bars. She managed to steady herself just in time to land gracefully on top of the bars. Then it was silent again. Nothing but the sound of the swing's chains in the wind and Mercury's typing on her keyboard.
"It seems as though the yoma has a cloaking ability. It hides it's energy source making it hard to track, but it is still there."
"Can you get a lock on it right?"
"It's going to take a few minutes Makoto."
"Well hurry, your all sitting ducks right now."
They turned to their fury friend just as a surge of energy began to form behind her.
"Luna! Look out!"
She leaped towards her mentor, grabbing her up and taking the brunt of the attack. Her back burned from the blast but the they were both okay.
"I've got it! It's there!"
Mercury pointed at an obscure area of the playground and Mars released her fiery vengeance on the creature. It let out a howl that had them all covering their ears. It's burnt flesh was now visible, making it possible for the girls to attack. Sailor Moon still crouched next to Luna, trying to regain her standing after the blow. Her back was burning like there were hot coals pressed to it, making it hurt to even breath.
The other Senshi attacked, a mixture of ice and lighting were hurled at the yoma. It let out another howl as the energy hit and then faded away. No one moved, expecting another attack while Mercury checked her screen. It was rare for an enemy to be destroyed without her energy.
"It looks like we got it guys. It's gone, all the energy is gone."
Even with Mercury's assurance, the four warriors stood their ground and carefully left the park. When they finally felt safe, they de-transformed. Usagi lifted up her shirt a little to reveal a nasty burn on her back. But it was nothing, it would heal in a day or two. What was really bothering her was the eery feeling she couldn't shake. The yoma had been too easy, hadn't it? Something just wasn't adding up. The others looked on edge with her. Things just didn't feel right. Even though they were in their human form, they kept their guard up. Her burning back kept her at the back of the group.
Rei turned to the group, "Does anyone else feel like that was too easy?"
"Yeah, I got a bad feeling."
The group formed a huddle and looked around. Ami pulled out her computer again and began assess the area.
"Okay, this is strange. That fight only seemed to last about thirty minutes but according to the computer it's 1:34 am! We must have been in some kind of time space continuum."
A chill ran up Usagi's back making her hiss at the pain from her burns.
"A what now?" Makoto asked.
"Basically, what seemed like only a few minutes to us was actually several hours!"
"I don't like this girls." Luna hissed.
A noise caught their attention, turning to it, they saw Tuxedo Kamen. He was a few feet away from them, running towards them.
"Okay, something is not right. If the fight is over, what is Tux boy doing here?" Makoto made a protective stance in front of her. Tuxedo Kamen was yelling something at them but he was too far away for them to hear. A sharp pain erupted from her skull and everything went black.
She sat in the backseat of the family car. The night sky flew by at great speed. She smiled at the sight of her parents in the front seats, alive and talking. Everything felt right.
They were talking about something. Actually they were yelling about something. Her father was driving and swerved around a lot. Her head was a bit fuzzy and it felt like cotton was in her ears. She had to concentrate really hard to understand the words coming out of their mouths.
"We can't go home! It will follow us!"
"I know, I know that honey. I'm going to try and loose it."
"Can we make it to the police station?"
"Honey, we are so far from everything right now. The best we can do is just keep it away from town."
"LOOK OUT!"
There was a flash of blue and suddenly the car was flipping. Top to bottom to top to bottom. Her seat belt was on but she still felt her arms and legs banging against the sides and the roof of the car. The car's roof slammed against a tree and then car settled back on it's wheels. Looking to the front of the car she could see her parents were unconscious. Blood covered their bodies but they were still breathing. She moved to reach them but her seat belt held her back. She struggled, trying to get it unlatched.
Her body screamed in pain from the tumble in the car and blood trickled down her face making it hard to see. The belt was stuck but she continued to struggle through her pain. She had to get to them, to save them. Then the door on her father's side was ripped off it's hinges. She watched in horror as both their chest rose slightly off their seats and energy flow out of their bodies and out of the car. She screamed over and over again but it didn't deterrent the yoma that was outside the car. She desperately wiped away the blood and tears on her face as she helplessly watched the life be drained from her parents.
The seat belt finally released her when the event was over. She reached up to her parents only to have the door across from her be retched from it's hinges as well. Invisible hands grabbed her shoulders and slammed her against the still standing door. A squeak of pain escaped her lips as her sore body hit hard. The hands that held her slowly materialized up the arms and shoulders until a face appeared looming over her. It was a man with long blonde hair pulled back into a pony tail. He wore a gray military suit which caused his pale skin to look a little green. She recognized it as one of the enemies' general uniforms from when they faced Jadeite and Nephrite.
"I finally found you princess. I lost you for a while when you left me at your old place. I'll admit, I originally didn't think killing you this way would be any fun but oh did you give me a run for my money. You have been a pleasure torturing and such as easy mark! Using your parent's death as a way in made this job easy for me."
"Who are you and how...how did you get into my dreams?"
"Oh how rude of me princess, I am Lord Zoicite. Queen Beryl's servant. Getting into your dreams was easy, all it took was a little negative energy and finding you. Then I just implanted myself into you while you slept. Your police, made you really easy to find at first then you disappeared."
He tightened his grip on her shoulders, squeezing her harder and painfully.
"I thought I had you again on the street that night, but your hero saved you. But I was able to get you at your old house and make you mine again. You were clever, not sleeping at night when I could possess you, but you should have been more careful out on the streets so late at night. Someone could just come up behind you and..." He smacked her across the face hard, "knock you unconscious."
He laughed again, releasing his hold on her. She put both feet up against his chest and shoved him hard, surprising him and forcing him back out of the car. He laid on the ground still laughing as she quickly climbed out and ran as fast as she could away from the scene. It was dark and the grass was slick with dew as she ran across it towards lights in the distance. She had almost reached the small house when in a flash it was gone.
She was in a frozen tundra. Snow and wind pelted her as her feet sunk into the deep snow. It was vast and empty. There was no life in sight. Even though she was in her winter gear, she was still in her school uniform which did little to protect her from the cold. Her skin was turning a sickly blue but still she dredged on, looking for some way out of her nightmare. Losing feeling in her legs, she fell into the deep snow. She rolled over and watched the snow fall, slowly covering her up. Shivers ran through her body and she found she could no longer control her convulsing body.
Without any known cause or explanation, the cold disappeared. She was still deep in snow but she felt warm all over. She rose from her snow grave and almost felt the need to remove her coat. Her hand felt the warmest, almost like it was on fire. A voice rang over her from an unseen body.
"Oh, so that' how they want to play it huh?"
The snow disappeared and she was in something a kin to a medieval dungeon. She was strapped to a wall in a dimly lit room. The only lite came from a fire in the middle of the room. She could hear screams in the distance and her heart began to race in fear. A large man appeared from one of the dark hallways. He only wore slacks and his gut hung over them. His face was covered in boils and his breath smells of wine and onions as he leaned in close to her face.
He moved away from her, turning his back and hiding what he was preparing for her. He didn't say a single word as he dipped a metal poker into the coals of the flame till it turned a bright yellow. With a sneer on his snaggle toothed face, he brought the hot metal close to her face, then down her body as if deciding were to place it. She noticed that she was no longer in her uniform and coat, but was instead in a white tunic that was ripped and stained.
Her breath became ragged as the monster zeroed in on her hand. Placing the poker over his target, he looked in her eyes as he pressed the burning metal into her palm. She screamed and tried to wrench her hand away but it was held by a metal cuff. He continued to press down on the flesh of her hand, watching her as she screamed and writhed in pain. When he removed the poker, her hand felt cold like she was back in the snow.
Tears trickled down her face but she gave her torturer a "go to hell" look. He only laughed and roamed the poker over her body again. Settling on her right shoulder, he slowly lowered the hot metal to her again. She could feel the heat from it and closed her eyes tight in anticipation of the pain.
But it never came. She felt her arms and legs go loose, falling to the floor. She was in a black room, no light, no walls just endless black like her dream once before only this time it wasn't sucking her in. A figure appeared next to her. She turned to see Rei and she threw her arms around her.
"Oh God Rei. I'm so glad your here. We have to get out of here!"
Rei shoved her back, "This is were you belong Princess."
Makoto appeared next to her, "Yeah, if you stay here then we won't have to deal with you anymore!"
"Our lives will be so much better if you just stay here. You should never come back."
She turned to the voice to see Ami with her arms crossed leering at her.
She screamed at them, "You guys don't mean that! You are my best friends!"
But they just turned and walked away. She tried to run after the but she seemed to go no where. She fell to her knees as they left her slight and crumbled into a ball on the floor. Zoicite's voice rang over her again.
"See Princess, I'm the only one who wants you. I want you to stay here forever!"
His laugh bellowed, bouncing off the unseen walls filling her ears. Sobs shook her body, causing the pain from every attack in her dream sing out. She felt a hand gently touch her shoulder. Knowing it was another trick she shrugged it off.
"I've had enough! Just kill me already!"
Suddenly two hands pulled her up out of her fetal position. She looked into the masked face of Tuxedo Kamen. Concern etched his face as he began to examine her wounds.
"No. Not you too. I can't take it. Please, please just kill me."
He roughly grabbed her shoulders, "Usagi, get a hold of yourself. I am here to help you."
"No. No your just another trick," She removed herself from his grip and stood, crying out to the skies, "Is this how you are going to kill me? Send my protector?"
He grabbed her wrist and spun her back to him, "Usagi, you have to trust me!"
"Trust YOU?! Even outside of this nightmare how could I?! The man who hides his face? Who saves me one minute the disappears the next? How the hell can I ever trust you?"
He stood there, silent for a blink of a second. Then she watched as he removed his top hat and then his mask. Standing in front of her was none other than Chiba, Mamoru.