A/N: So, once again, the new chapter is up rather quickly. I hope this trend will continue. Thanks to the people who opted to follow this story, and to everyone who is reading it. I hope y'all continue to read and enjoy my writing.
WARNING: Dark themes. Please read at your own risk. I BLAME YOU if you read this and are offended. This is NOT a flowers and puppy dogs stype of joy fanfic. This is more serious.
With love,
Korrupted.
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN SAILOR MOON! Trust me, I wish that changes, but I highly doubt it.
Nephrite remained sitting outside Usagi's room silently, his eyes still slightly haunted as he gazed at the tile floor. Six days of trying to guard the one he should have watched far more closely for his prince. Six days of regret. When he looked at his hands, he could see blood on them all over again; Makoto's and Usagi's blood staining his skin the angry red of failure. Nephrite had never thought that the humans would pose such a threat to the senshi. If only he had called Mamoru for Usagi and insisted Makoto wait for him, then none of this would have happened. Then he wouldn't have seen them like... that.
-Nephrite was mopping almost meticulously, trying to remove any trace of grime from the hallway that lead to the senshi secret meeting room. Luna had truly outdone herself when she had created this hideout of sorts, and he smiled at the thought of Ami laughing at how he would fumble slightly around her. "It's not my fault. I just can't seem to move properly when she's near me." He tried to reason, glancing at the clock on the wall. "Midnight. Arigatou, Kami-sama!" He huffed, putting the mop and bucket into the closet before steadying himself to leap, flipping gracefully further than any human could reach to the time clock and punching out. However, the second he donned his red leather jacket, a tiny groan filtered through the door to the hall, Nephrite gathering energy in his hand to attack any thief that may be trying to break in before jerking the door open.
Of all the things the Shitennou male had imagined on the other side of the portal, this had not even been a passing thought. "Princess!" He cried out, kneeling to assess her wounds in a fevered pace. "Princess! Usagi? Usagi!" Stab wound, bruises, her missing shirt, cuts, her leg swelling at an unnatural pace. He rushed inside to find an old cloth sign that had been stretched over canvas, mentally swearing to pay for a new one in the morning as he fashioned a splint, setting the broken leg and waking the girl on the counter top up to scream in alarm and pain. Instantly Nephrite was trying to calm her, his red tipped black hair slowly turning more and more red in his hatred for whatever did this. "Usagi-san! Please, I'm setting your leg." He didn't know tears were running from his eyes, he couldn't feel how hard his hands shook as he tied cloth over the deep wound in her shoulder. She squeaked a word at him, but the general didn't catch it, leaning closer as she repeated it and gripped his shirt weakly with her left hand. "M-mako-chan..." He looked at her in confusion, about to say she had left an hour ago before it clicked. He felt torn, should he stay with the Princess, or look for the other senshi? After a moment of deliberation, he fashioned a sling to allow Usagi to be carried on his back, moving carefully to reduce the pain his motions caused her. The now completely red haired male opened the hall door once again, his nearly black hues now a startling blue, his sword brandished openly in his hand as he moved down the hall.-
"Nephrite-kun?" Jadeite's timid young voice snapped him out of his memory, the youngest of the Shitennou gazing at him in bare concern. "You should go rest. Please. I will take up guard." The older general sighing and running his hand through his red tipped hair. "Jadeite, iie. I must keep the Princess safe." "Nephrite." The clear, strong voice of Mamoru spoke to him softly, Nephrite standing to bow in respect to his prince. "Hai." Was his only answer, half hoping that he would be punished for his failure. "Go home and rest. That is an order." With a sigh, the Shitennou stood and walked away, so very tired. And so very much guilt stricken.
Minako was sitting next to Usagi as the other blonde dozed, watching as Mamoru re-entered the room. "She is still sleeping." The senshi of love whispered, noting only Zoisite in there with them. "Where is Kunzite-san?" She inquired, looking for the eldest general and leader of the Shitennou. Mamoru rubbed the back of his head. "Outside Makoto's room. Nephrite should be going home to rest now." At very first, he had been angry that he hadn't been called sooner, but once he had arrived and saw the tortured look in Nephrite's eyes his fury died away. There had been so much pain in those black eyes, so much regret, so much guilt that Mamoru could only feel pity for him, knowing he must have seen nightmare-ish sights when he brought in the girls. "Usagi is strong, Mamoru. We both know that." "Mina...ko-chan, Mako-chan is stronger..." The ditsy young adult muttered, rousing from her sleep, Mamoru swooping down to hold her left hand gently. "Usagi, how do you feel?" He questioned, watching a lazy smile touch her features. "Better, Mamoru... Arigatou."
Her blue eyes were a bit glazed over from the exhaustion, her arm in a sling as the wound healed at an alarming rate; it seemed that it had been a month ago that she was stabbed instead of almost a week. "Think the youma can give us some time off?" A sheepish smile played on her features, Zoisite smiling at her from his own seat. "Hai. Luna says they want to take a nap almost as much as you do." The white haired general joked, the Princess teasing back, "They must really love sleep, then." Minako was smiling, grinning at the playful exchanges that only their friend could provide. Mamoru smiled, brushing her hair back gently, his calm eyes watching her features carefully as he spoke, "Saeko says you may be able to leave tomorrow. Your mother would like to know if you would like to stay at home or with me." He watched her blue eyes narrow in thought, pondering the benefits to each option before making her choice. "Home. I just want my bed and things. But we have a spare room, Mamoru." Her expression to him was hopeful, the male happy she wanted him near. "I would be honored to stay, Usa-ko."
Saeko was walking through critical care to make her final rounds before her shift came to an end, seeing a few nurses bickering in hushed tones outside of Makoto's room, Kunzite watching them intently. He looked refined with his hair in it's typical style, but wearing one of his dress suits instead of his very ornate Shitennou uniform, the doctor walking over to see what had him so on edge. "What is going on here?" Dr. Mizuno inquired in a brisk voice, the two women bowing respectfully. "Ah, Mizuno-san. I was telling Izumi that she shouldn't try to disturb the visitors in the room." The smaller of the two admitted, Izumi puffing up a bit. "However, hospital regulation states that visiting hours are over." The more broadly built female added indignantly. Saeko arched her eyebrow at Izumi warily. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Izumi-san." She spoke in an even tone full of amusement, both of them looking at her with questioning eyes. "I will. It's just two girls. Now, if you would excuse me..." She glared at the smaller nurse, the doctor trying not to laugh. She couldn't very well tell the stubborn woman that the shrine maiden and her daughter would pummel her to a pulp for trying with their powers, but she could say something else. "Ah, I will get a patient room ready to receive you, then."
As hoped, the stocky woman stopped in her tracks and turned to her. "N-nani?!" Saeko shrugged, then continued, "If you insist upon trying to remove them, we need to have a room ready for you. You might be in the regular wing, but I should check in any of these rooms are free." She gestured at the now standing Kunzite, suppressing a grin. "This man is one of Mars Reiko's body guards. She is in there to visit her close friend. He would most certainly stop you in your efforts." He was giving the two nurses his most pointed glare, crossing his arms over his chest before saying in a mock furious voice, "You will not be disturbing Ms. Reiko." Instantly, Izumi deflated and scurried away with several apologies, Kunzite then turning to the doctor with the inquiry, "Who is this Mars Reiko, Saeko-san?"
The woman was trying not to snort with laughter at the two long gone women, answering when she could form intelligent words once again. "Rei-chan. She achieved a level of idol fame with Minako-chan. Her stage name is Mars Reiko." The general nodded before adding, "Was that really necessary? I believe those two are now petrified of me." Saeko grinned impishly. "Kunzite-san, don't begrudge me a bit of fun at work. Besides, if I hadn't, Izumi would have tried to remove Rei and Ami from Makoto's room." The male openly winced. "Ah. This is a much better alternative, yes. Otherwise, the burn unit is three floors up and that would be difficult to explain." He looked at the closed doors, "When will she be able to leave?" A hushed sigh. "At least another five days. But her memory is my main concern. I feel she blocked out most of it since she can't cope with it. We can tell her she was injured, but we need to leave out all the rest of it." Kunzite nodded, speaking softly in a voice laced with deep respect. "Makoto deserves some rest. She is a warrior of the highest honor, but she is also human. I will watch over her, Saeko-san. And as long as Rei and Ami are with her, I will watch them as well." He partially hoped that the senshi of protection would never remember. Living through it once was hellish enough, he would not want her to experience that again.
A/N: So, if you can't guess, I am only showing snippets through flash-backs for now. We know WHAT happened, yes, but the HOW is undefined thus far. As always, reviews are like ambrosia to me, so don't be scared to drop one.