...

Out the sky it came
Darkened my sun, crippling my light
Eclipsed my day, created my night
Black holes swallow everything in sight
My heart included.

Joy. Fear. Hope. Worry. Determination.

Those were just a few things rushing through Hotaru as she stood looking upwards at the imposing, and forbidding stone wall that surrounded the mysterious mansion. She breathed in deeply and her fist tightened. Her chin fell to her chest and her eyes closed as she continued to take in deep breaths as the two Senshi around her shifted uneasily waiting for her to say something. She had still told them nothing. She couldn't. They would kill her if they knew who she was, and if she tried to explain why she had grown anxious at the sight of Mamoru they wouldn't understand. What did all of this mean?

"Hotaru-chan?" Sailor Uranus spoke her name hoping to get her to look at them, but Hotaru couldn't. She had to concentrate of the mansion. Soon they would be within its shadow and Hotaru would be able to find some answers. There had to be answers within it... The two Senshi beside her had seen Mamoru here several times, and that was a mystery she didn't understand, but it had to be important. Hotaru opened her eyes and looked upwards finally ready. It had such a dark aura, there had to be something going on here. "You ready?" Uranus asked and Hotaru nodded. Neptune stepped beside them with a frown on her face. She hadn't wanted to come back here. Her own plans to infiltrate the mansion had failed, and they had found nothing with their previous mission here. Hotaru had gotten them to come back finally after hard pushing, but then it had been an entirely new battle with both Michiru and Haruka to get them to agree to take her. Without transforming, she would just be seen as in the way, but she had to come. She had to find the answers that lay behind the stone wall.

"Lets go." Hotaru spoke in a short tone, and Uranus' arms wrapped around her waist as they prepared to jump the wall. The world spun quickly and Hotaru's hair whipped around her face as Uranus sped upwards and the next thing Hotaru knew her feet were gently touching grass of the other side of the wall.

"There we go, the delinquent now turning felon." Hotaru looked upwards to see Uranus trying to smile, but each of them could feel the tension growing around them, and the evil presence that was crawling up their backs. An electric spark rushed up Hotaru's back and she spun around towards the city. "What is it?" Uranus asked. Hotaru took a step closer and her heart was pounding. Something... something...

"Tomoe-san?" Hotaru turned back to the two waiting Senshi.

"I thought I felt..." She looked out into the city once more. Something had just happened right then. Something dark and looming. Something sad and tragic. Something...

"Come on." Uranus whispered and Hotaru nodded trying to pull herself away. She would have to worry about it later, but... it had felt important... It had felt... like something had just ended...

"Chibiusa..." Fear filled her heart, but Uranus' arm wrapped around her comfortingly.

"What's wrong?" Hotaru shook her head. She couldn't explain it.

"Come on, we can't just stay out here in the open." Neptune complained, but her face showed that she had felt something too. Hotaru and them crouched behind the bushes but Hotaru's mind could only continue to go to Chibiusa in fear.

"I have to fix this..." She thought forcefully. "I have to save our futures!"

The three of them pressed tightly against the window trying to keep their balance and the two Senshi looked up towards the ceiling trying to think up a way to get Hotaru into the house without tracking in ash everywhere.

"She can't quick change like us." Neptune argued and Uranus didn't speak as she continued to look upwards; her face just as pensive. "This was a bad idea." Neptune fussed, and Uranus couldn't disagree with her. They had no way of getting Hotaru inside and if they needed to make a fast get away they would be stuck. Uranus didn't want to admit it, but Neptune had been right about this one.

"Well we just can't leave her here." Uranus thought, but she didn't dare speak it. She was already in hot water with Neptune. Uranus glanced down to where Hotaru crouched precariously on the small ledge. Uranus frowned to see her sitting with her eyes pressed closed tightly as she touched the center of the window as if she might try to open it. "Hey," Uranus bent down, but Hotaru didn't answer her. Neptune bent down with her frown transforming into a worried stare. To the there surprise a moment later they heard a small click from the window and Hotaru's eyes opened as she stood up swinging the window towards her, and Uranus. "H-how?" Hotaru's violet eyes sparkled slightly as she smiled at Neptune.

"I had help from three people in channeling my power into a more... constructive outlet." She said softly. Then she jumped down into the room and the other two followed after her. The room was littered with newspapers and tabloids still, but the mess was contained to the area next to the window. The rest appeared to be simply another ordinary office.

"See, nothing but newspapers." Uranus said. "Just evidence of a strange obsession." Hotaru picked up the top newspaper with Sailor Moon's bright smile staring at her. "Sailor Moon..." Uranus' voice was soft and Hotaru could hear a sound of longing in her voice, and she glanced at Neptune to see she had a similar expression on her face. It caused the small hope that had begun to grow in her chest to become even stronger. She had already seen the that they could... possibly... begin to remember... At least, someday... Hotaru put down the newspaper. She had to fix this! She had to find the source of the problem and eradicate it! She would sacrifice her life if she had to. Hotaru stepped away from the newspapers, and the other two seemed to linger by the window a moment.

"What are you looking for exactly?" Neptune whispered out to her. "There is nothing here." Hotaru's eyes scanned the room.

"A lots here." She said pushing her way through the door. There had to be something here. She just had to find it. All the clues lead back to here.

"Hotaru!" The two Senshi whispered harshly. They knew what Hotaru did not, that there were bedrooms nearby. Hotaru froze as a chilled breeze brushed against her, and her head turned to follow it. It was a dark and mysterious cold... She followed the breeze to a cracked door down the hall and slowly she peeked into the room. She moved silently and quickly... her slender frame working to her advantage. Not even the wood creaked beneath her weight. The room was empty except for a large four-post bed and it looked as if its occupant had thrown the covers away in a panicked haste and they lay sprawled across the floor.

The two Senshi entered the hallway and they looked around in fear with their eyes and ears open.

"Hotaru?" They hadn't seen where she had gone exactly. "Hotaru?" Uranus felt the same coldness sweep across the hall and her body turned towards the open door. "In here." She whispered and Neptune followed her into the bedroom where they could see Hotaru standing next to the wall bent over the vents.

"What are you doing?" Neptune asked. Hotaru's head lifted and she stared at the closed window. Uranus leaned against the doorway smiling proudly.

"Looks like we have a regular wind talker." She laughed softly. Hotaru looked up at her with sad eyes. She had been taught by the best there was. She turned back to her trail. The windows were securely closed and the vents were shut. Hotaru followed the breeze unsure of what to make of it, but at the moment it was all she had... or didn't have. She passed by a large oak chest and as she passed it the breeze died instantly. She took a step backwards in front of the chest and her hair swayed slightly from the breeze as it came up front the chest. "You found something?" Uranus asked stepping forward, and Neptune remained guarding the doorway. Hotaru looked at Uranus as she stepped by her, and then she turned her attention back to the chest. There had to be something in it that was giving off the breeze, but what would do? She grasped under the lip of the lid and as she touched it a cold chill swept through her and an intense evil presence filled her. Neptune stood up straight at her post as she stared at The Deep Aqua Mirror. The evil echo they had felt the first time... she turned towards the other two nervously as Hotaru grabbed hold of the lid. It was no longer just an echo. The source of the evil was there in this room and it was growing now that they had gathered there.

"I don't think you should." She said. Hotaru pulled up on the lid but it refused to budge; it was locked. Hotaru bent down in front of it with a serious frown. Uranus had to smile again. Hotaru's face looked just like Neptune's when she was stumped.

"Let me." Uranus said lifting her hand and The Space Sword revealed itself in her hand.

"You can't!" Hotaru scolded lifting her hand to stop her. "We can't let them know we were here." Uranus let the sword relax in her hand and shook her head sadly. "Michiru-mama," Hotaru turned to Neptune who was frowning again.

"Stop calling me that." She said stepping from her post.

"Use The Mirror." Hotaru said, and Neptune crossed her arms.

"It won't open a lock." She said, and Hotaru nodded.

"But you can see what is inside the chest with it." Neptune blinked. Hotaru was something she couldn't explain. But it was probably the safest idea. She didn't want to open the chest with Hotaru there. Whatever was giving off that power, that presence, had to be dangerous. Neptune lifted The Mirror to her face and peered deep within The Mirror as Uranus fiddled with her sword disappointed. After a minute or two she put The Mirror down with a sigh.

"Its too clouded." She complained. "I can't see a thing." Hotaru huffed as she turned back to the chest. "I guess we'll have to give up."

"We never give up." Hotaru said touching the chest lid again and knelt down in front of it. Neptune and Uranus looked at each other mournfully. She was revealing herself to be more and more like them each moment. Hotaru's hands traveled over the top of the chest and her heart began to beat more quickly. She needed to calm down. She just had to concentrate on the contents inside. Could she get the vision to come to her? She had been practicing while at the school, but it still would be hard without a medium like The Mirror. Hotaru swallowed hard and closed her eyes as she began to concentrate.

"What are you doing?" Uranus asked, but Neptune hushed her and she stood behind Hotaru once again in disbelief. Neptune crouched down beside her in order to take in the look on Hotaru's face as she left the two of them behind.

Hotaru's mind began to clear of everything and her awareness of the things around her disappeared. It was just her and the chest... She felt a cold prickling sensation move up her back as the chest vanished in her mind's eyes and then there was only darkness. Out of the darkness Hotaru could make out several shapes beginning to form out of the chest. She just had to concentrate on getting the image to clear.

Pain shot through her brain and she bit her lip forcefully in order to stop herself from crying out. The pain was worth it, if she could just find out the cause of this... One of the objects remained clouded in mystery as she concentrated harder. She held her breath as she tried to clear the image, but then she let it out as she changed tactics. She just needed to focus on the one object versus the entire image in general. The other objects began to fade away and slowly the other object was coming into view now.

It was a circular orb on what Hotaru could tell was a purple pillow. Now was the time! Hotaru inserted herself into the vision and now longer did she crouch on the room's floor but stood within the dark void with the orb and pillow before her. She imagined herself placing her hands upon the orb and as she did so her hands tingled; in real life as well as in her mind. She lifted the orb off of the pillow and brought it closer to her face.

A strong power swept through her and she resisted the urge to drop it. It was such an evil presence. Something Hotaru hadn't felt since... since she was eight. Hotaru pressed forward and peered deep within the orb. Unlike The Mirror, its secrets revealed itself easily to her.

At first there was only dark swirling clouds, but then there was also the soft twinkling of light from within the center. The evil presence that had filled the room permeated through her body and another sharp pain stabbed at the back of her head. The cool breeze now escalated into a swirling wind all around her and it was coming straight from the orb making her hair swirl around her face.

Hotaru's mind's eyes squinted to look deeper into the orb. She had to find answers... There had to be something here... This had to be it!

She kept falling deeper and deeper into the vision and Hotaru felt herself losing herself to the insertion. She should have pulled out awhile ago, but she couldn't... not now...If she pulled out now then all of this would have been for nothing!

The light began to grow bigger and bigger from the orb as Hotaru went deeper into the vision and a burning sensation pierced her forehead and her mind's eyes widened as visions began to reveal themselves from the orb.

The Moon Castle crumbling into ruin...

Smoke, so much smoke...

The vision escalated and she saw her dream replayed before her eyes.

The orb glowed a bright violet and Hotaru's hands stung as it burned just as hotly as her forehead.

"No! Stop!" She couldn't release the orb, it had trapped her and froze her in place as the pain ripped through her. A pair of bright red eyes emerged from the smoke and laughter surrounded Hotaru as she tried to pull out of the insertion.

"Child of Saturn..." The laughter increased as Hotaru could only remain staring at the orb in a fearful disbelief and her eyes widen in horror as she could finally see clearly into the orb. No! She could not longer speak, but a sharp painful gasp escaped her lungs. This couldn't be! She pulled violently in order to escape the insertion. "The future you knew is gone!"

"No! Stop!" Hotaru's entire body convulsed in front of them and her body was surrounded by the same purple aura that had surrounded her when she had been dreaming.

"Get out!" Neptune ordered touching her shoulder. "Hotaru pull out!" It was too late. The girl was too far gone. "Hotaru!" Uranus leaned closer not knowing what was going on. Hotaru gasped suddenly and her eyes opened wide. "Hotaru!" The girl collapsed backwards into Uranus' arms now unconscious.

"What happened?" Uranus demanded and Neptune touched Hotaru's pale skin. She was stone cold.

"She went too deep and then pulled out too quickly." She explained as she began to stand up. "Something must have happened that required her quick exit. Something threatening."

"From a chest?!" Uranus asked in disbelief. The two Senshi turned towards the door as sounds came from the hallway and the two felt utter terror as the light turned on. Uranus stood up with Hotaru in her arms and Neptune tried to open the window beside them. She pressed against it and then she looked back over her shoulder at Uranus in fear. It was jammed...

A soft curse left Uranus' lips and Neptune opened the closet door for her and they waited hoping that whoever it was would leave quickly. Michiru remained peering out towards the hallway and the lights turned off once more and the door from the office they were in earlier slammed shut. Neptune gasped and pulled back from the opening as the footprints came closer to the bedroom. It could be anyone, perhaps Mr. Yoruno himself.

The bedroom door closed and the sound of footprints leaving barely reached them in the closet. After a minute or two they stepped out into the moonlight. That had been too close...

They had to get out of here!

The light to the hallway was now off again and Neptune looked around the corner in both directions before stepping out into plain view. Uranus followed behind her, and Hotaru remained frighteningly limp in her arms. Uranus motioned towards the office with her head and Neptune nodded as she opened the door slowly. The entire room was still dark and the two Senshi entered in cautiously.

The door slammed behind them.

The two turned around quickly to see the man who had shut it leaning against the wall where he would have been hidden by the open door.

"Now, why would Sailor Senshi be here I wonder?" The man mused to himself. His thick brown hair remained out of his face and his blue eyes looked up from the floor and towards them as he smiled. Neptune stepped in front of Uranus and Hotaru with her arm stretched out to the side so he could not get past her. "Could it be that Kimi isn't entirely who she says she is?" The man asked with a hint of sarcasm. Neptune offered him her death stare. "Oh," He acted surprised now. "Were we making our escape?" He asked as he motioned to the window. He bowed apologetically. "So sorry, go right ahead." Neptune and Uranus didn't move, but continued to stare at him suspiciously. "Oh you better hurry." He told them. "Before someone comes around who isn't as courteous as me." He paused. "Or as curious." Uranus backed up towards the window.

"We have to get her out of here." She whispered behind Neptune. Neptune bit her lip.

"You go ahead." She said darkly. She would figure out what had happened here. What had caused Hotaru pain. "I've got some questions." The man laughed.

"You can't get anything out of me, I don't know anything." He said. "See? I'm curious." He reminded them.

"Neptune." Uranus growled. Neptune stepped back towards the window and opened it for her, but her eyes didn't leave the man. Hurriedly they leapt to the tree and then to the stone wall with only quick glances back towards the mansion and the man. They were over the wall in a matter of seconds and then into the night with Hotaru barely breathing.

Note: Poem is "Goodbye To The Sun" by Crystal Sherriff

The actual song I thought about for this chapter was "In The Laps of The Gods" by Alan Parson Project. But its an instrumental. Well, mostly. It has an amazing violin part that I've always loved. Okay, my playlist is a strange mixture of my Dad's ancient material, my Mom's alternative and Christian music, and a strange leak of modern stuff on the radio. Okay, I'll listen to almost anything. Almost anything. There is a lot of the modern stuff I can't handle.