Seeking Love

Chapter 23

Earth Year: 22nd Century 57th Earth Cycle

"Natsumi, it is time for me to further your skills."

The training for the day had finally finished. Takeshi still wasn't talking to her, and she was fed up with playing his childish games. She focused her anxiety on her practice and studies with Sir. He had called her aside while they rest of the trainees were leaving for their homes.

"Do you think I'm really ready?"

"I would not have said anything if I hadn't. I hear you have told Takeshi of yourself. How did it feel uncovering your lie?" the bold man asked her.

"I.. I felt betrayed. I thought he was going to take it easier. I hate being a girl!

"Understandable. It is hard to let our true selves be seen, but this is why I have chosen you. I want to give you a gift. Only you can wield it, and I believe you are the sole heir to it's power. Follow me."

Present Day

"STAY BACK!" Takeshi ordered. His fingers were all pointed at Serenity as if they were the blade of a sword.

"Takeshi! Don't do this."

"Don't tell me what to do! You are not my mother!"

Serenity had never seen this childish side of Takeshi before. It was as if the layers around his mind were slowly peeling away to reveal the ravage beast within. She would have to wait for her soldiers. They should have been here by now, they weren't this far off her heels.

Takeshi finally backed away from the figure resting on the tree. Kunzite! How did he get here? "Stop this! I won't say it again."

"You're an old broken record, and I'm getting quite sick of listening to the same tune. I much prefer the wailings of a little girl!" This time he rushed directly towards her. His hands were by his side, and he came up to her holding a small knife against her throat. "Now I want you to beg for mercy!"

The cold edge felt like a piece of ice against her throat. She dared not swallow or breathe. Somehow, she found the courage to not cry or whimper. Takeshi's hot breath was adding layer upon layer of disgust upon her face. She wasn't going to let this man treat her like this! She was never going to let any man treat her like this! "GGGGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAH!" she grunted, as she pushed Takeshi away with both of her hands. He tripped, and fell to the ground stunned. The rage in his eyes was replaced with a sickening fear. They bulged from their sockets, and his mouth began to slowly drop open. All the troubles Serenity had to deal with up until then were finally let free. The damn had broken, and everything was let out. Her fuss about Takeshi, the problems with her mom, and most importantly her disgust with the engagement surged out of her in the form of a solid beam of blue light. The brilliant fluorescent blue streamed through her body. From the center of her heart to the ends of her fingers and toes.

Endymion stood on the other side of Takeshi, and was just as shocked to see the sailor soldier burst into a glow. That crazy voice wasn't in his head after all. This was reality, and it was happening right here and now in front of him. He had never seen so much radiant energy. He had never seen something so dangerously beautiful.

The blue light grew to envelope Takeshi, and his body began to float upwards as if hooked by his chest. He struggled to hold his head up to keep his gaze on the shining warrior. A prickly feeling started at his appendages. Shifting his site, his fingers began to dissolve into miniscule square pixels. It was as if he was being deleted from this existence. There was no real pain, but he couldn't help but yell out, "NOOOOOOOOOO!"

The last piece of Takeshi he saw was the man's eyes. The face was struck in fear, but the eyes looked like they were at peace. Was Takeshi actually in that state of mind? Nobody would ever know. The blue glow descended from the woman's body, and she toppled over onto the ground. Endymion was still uselessly and helplessly stuck to the tree. What a Prince I am.

All she felt was a glossy liquid coating them. It was warm, it was sick, it was blood. Finally her senses focused to the body laying in front of her. His black hair feathered across his gaping open unmoving eyes. That is what Serenity saw during her transformation and execution of Takeshi. The man lying in her arms who was once the blossoming love in heart.

Unbeknownst to her, she was literally in another state of mind.

The other four sailor soldiers were all grumbling. Rei kept trying to ram into the empty space before her, but it just pushed back sending her flying.

"I've told you once. Don't make me say it again. There is a barrier up! I'm trying to find the source, but I'm doubtful that I'll be able to break it down," dictated Ami.

"Our Princess is in there without us! Type faster!" urged Mina.

Makoto was in the process of trying to find a hole in the shield. She could feel the electrical pulses without having to touch the invisible screen. So far she could tell it was shaped into a sphere around whatever the center point was. She was on her way back to the group when the soft buzzing stopped. Reaching her hand out carefully, no reaction occurred.

"Ami. The shield is down. Start directing me towards the Princess," she said over her walkie earpiece.

Her green boots hit the ground hard and strong. She swiftly navigated through the trees towards the location Ami had given her. Only 10 meters away! Serenity's body lay on the white soil. There was no sign of blood, but there wasn't any sign of her moving either. As Makoto got closer she saw one of the Prince's generals tied to the tree.

"Looks like the damsel in distress is a boy!"

He looked at her in disgust. "Do you really think that this is the time to be sarcastic?!"

"Calm down. What happened?!" She reached down to feel for a pulse, her Princess had a steady heartbeat. A single stream of wet tears ran from her closed eyes. What was making her Princess cry? She immediately pulled her into her arms and began to carry her back to the archway. "The others will be here shortly, they'll untie you."

Eventually everyone was back into the carriage heading back to the palace. Serenity lay on Makoto's lap still. Rei untied the ropes, and they went in search of the other generals and the Prince. Turned out that the boys were trapped in another hallway, but with both doors locked.

"Princess, you really ought to talk to the Moon council about that courthouse! It just isn't safe!" expressed Zoisite.

"We were about to starve.. I mean one of us was in danger! There was a killer out on the loose!" added Jadeite.

The bulging nose man was now alone in the white woods. He hastily walked over to a tree, a rope strewn around it. Behind an adjacent tree was a bag. Within it contained something most precious to the cause.

"Sir. Both tasks have been completed. Takeshi is no longer making problems, and I'll be sending the blood samples your way," said the man over a mobile.

Stripping naked in the cold wind the white suit dropped to the ground blending with the rest of the white soil. Another set of clothing within the bag was taken out and adorned over the 'chicken bumped' skin. The man's facial features began to melt into a more soft face. His height shrunk, as did his waist. His hair changed last from a short grey cut, to long and flowing red locks.

Earth Year: 22nd Century 57th Earth Cycle

"You see Natsumi. I'm going to teach you how to shape shift," explained Sir as he put his calloused hand upon her shoulder.

First off, I'm soooooo sorry it has been so long since I updated. School work has been in the way, and I really wanted each chapter to be solid. So I've been taking more time on each chapter revision. I'll most likely be posting another section of chapters within the week. Ya for free time.

Also, I ask for your patience with Endymion and Serenity. I know it is unusual to keep them apart for 23 chapters! but I promise, the time is coming soon. It's going to be a bang.