AN: I know I said I would update this last week but things got complicated. For more of this story, head to my Tumblr or Facebook page for the link!
Chapter Eight
"I cry even harder, thinking of how it could have been, of how I thought it would be. For the first time, I want to give up, to die, because suddenly everything is too much and there is no solution in sight."
― B.A. Paris, Behind Closed Doors
Usagi didn't know how long she had until Mamoru or Toki sought her out, forcing her to stick by them. Nor did she know her way around enough to be as quick in 'seeking' as she would have liked. But she had a feeling that if she could find Ami or Makoto, they would have more answers for her.
She had to ask (one guard being nice enough to point her in the right direction), sending her up a long set of stairs and to the roof. The door was heavy, taking a few pulls to get it open, but once she did, she let out a gasp.
The entire roof had been turned into a vast greenhouse, flowers and plants all around her. The hot, wet air had her feeling like she was in a jungle and not on a mountain. Row after row of thick foliage, all green and lush, it was easy to forget the worries of the outside world. But she was on a mission.
Brown hair peeked over a few tall rows, and she rounded the corner to find Makoto in plain clothes, tending to her garden. Upon seeing her, it occurred to Usagi that this girl had no reason to tell her anything; they didn't even know one another at all.
Slowly, she approached, the woman glancing up as she neared and softening at the sight of her. "Usagi-chan. Shouldn't you be resting?"
"I wanted to speak with you."
She chuckled. "And you couldn't do it in front of the others? Something tells me this won't be very good."
Usagi sat carefully on an empty shelf, the cement blocks underneath holding her weight. "I'm sorry, I know you don't know me…."
"Oh, but I do! All the stories of Sailor Moon and her ways of defeating an enemy at the last second. And Usagi Tsukino with her classic tardiness. Both of you being a clutz…."
"Is that what they say about me?"
Makoto softened, looking away from her tomatoes and down at Usagi. "They also say you are the warmest, sweetest, and most caring person on the whole planet. And that is someone I want to know."
Her mouth twisted into a smile, out of her control, as the gentle Makoto smiled back. "I wanted to ask…. if you knew what happened to Tuxedo Kamen?"
Makoto's smile faded quickly, and she turned away from her. "I know you know Tuxedo Kamen as an ally, Usagi-chan, but the man I met was far from it."
"What do you mean?!"
Makoto sighed, setting down the watering can she held and turned. "I mean, Usagi, he was only an ally to you, to Sailor Moon. After you…. left, he took out his anger and guilt on the rest of the Senshi and then left altogether. He practically helped the Dark Kingdom for a time too."
"Please, Matoko, tell me all that he did."
"I came in in the middle of it, but I know that he only stepped in after the enemy beat the shit out of us. The night we lost, the first time, he didn't even come at all. Ten people died. Next thing we know, he is helping Kunzite make Youmas, designing them for him."
"Wait, who is Kunzite and how do you even know Tux was helping?"
"Oh, I forgot, he showed up later. Kunzite is one of Beryl's generals, her highest one. There are four; Jadeite, Nephrite, Zoisite, and Kunzite. Nephrite is in Russia somewhere, while Zoisite was last seen in America. Kunzite is in Berlin. And we know he helped because he told us! Showing up with the Youmas he designed and rubbing it in our faces. And since we never knew who he was, he just disappeared without a trace after that. I haven't seen him since."
Usagi was shaking by the end of Makoto's tale. "No… that can't be right…. Tux was on our side; he wanted to stop Beryl just as much as we did!"
The brunette shrugged, picking her watering can back up and returning to her work. All while Usagi was left reeling from the information. She was trying to imagine Tuxedo Kamen helping the enemy and then trying to conceive a reasonable explanation for it.
oOo
When she found the room again, Toki had joined, sleeping soundly on the top bunk. Mamoru's bed was empty.
She was just about to drop her glamour and climb into bed when the door opened again; Mamoru stomped in, took one look at her, grabbed her arm, and pulled her back out into the hall. "Where the hell have you been?!"
Crossing her arms over her chest, she glared back, matching him. "Not that it is any of your business, but I was with Makoto!"
He huffed, a dark laugh coming from him. "Makoto? Let me guess what you two talked about…."
"We bonded, okay? That is part of being a Senshi. We have to bond together for us to work!"
"Cause that worked so well for you before."
The cold wall was pressed against her back while Mamoru leered over her, but she still tried to stand tall against him. "Even IF I were to blame Ami and Rei for something that wasn't their fault…" he huffed at her words, trying to turn away from her, but she grabbed him and pulled him back. "Makoto wasn't a part of that. So why do you hold it against her?"
"Because none of them tried, Usagi. Not hard enough!"
"They fought just as hard as they could! Even when against Tuxedo Kamen… apparently…."
Usagi's head was starting to spin, not liking the words coming out of her mouth because she desperately didn't want to believe them. "At least he tried to get you back, to wake you up."
"What?" Mamoru tried to turn away again, but she grabbed him again, pulling him back. "What do you mean?" She held onto the front of his shirt, gripping it tight to keep him from leaving and hoping she could get more out of him. "Mamoru, what are you not telling me!"
"What does it matter? He failed. For five years, he couldn't do anything to get you to wake up. And he tried everything…."
"How do you…. how do you know that?"
At some point, Mamoru's hands had ended up on Usagi's hips, pulling her in closer. She was trapped in his eyes, unable to look away. Finally, his mouth opened, words he wanted to say sticking in his throat, causing his hot breath to wash over her lips.
"Can you two keep it the fuck down! The walls may look thick, but they are like paper!"
Mamoru stumbled back -releasing Usagi- but not before she glanced down the hall, seeing that a few doors had opened and they were being watched. Saori among them, her face white with pain and anger.
Usagi pushed Mamoru the rest of the way back while he mumbled apologies. She rushed back into their room. Jumping on her bed, Usagi pulled the covers high over her head, trying to disappear as Mamoru came back in. Silent, he returned to his bed, the only sound the squeaking of the springs and Toki's snores. The two of them woke up the whole hall but not the man who had been right behind them the entire time.
oOo
It was almost strange, having the light of dawn in her room again. Usagi's short time underground had affected her greatly.
The light was still pale, but she couldn't stand just laying around any longer, especially with Mamoru so close and sleeping without care. She was angry. Angry at him for how he treated her and how he treated Saori. But mostly, Usagi was mad at him for even being with Saori. The last bit was irrational as Usagi had no claim to the man asleep in the next bed. And yet, she still felt betrayed, which only made her feel crazy and silly at the same time. It was an explosive mix of anger, frustration, and crazy that Usagi knew would soon go off if she didn't get out of the room.
Not caring if she woke either man, she bounced off her bed, and it squeaked just as loud as Mamoru's did. She heard one of them stir as she walked out the door, making it around the corner before the door opened again.
Usagi heard Mamoru call out her name, but she refused to stop: she couldn't stop. There was no telling what would happen if Usagi let him catch up to her or talk to her. Her nerves were raw, having spent the entire night thinking over Makoto's and Mamoru's words over and over again. And thinking about all the times Mamoru almost kissed her and Saori's pained face.
Usagi wasn't sure she could stay with Mamoru any longer.
Taking a corner too fast, she ran into a ball of blue. Ami wrapped her arms around Usagi to keep the blonde from hitting the ground hard. "Glad to see some things never change." Once steady, Usagi looked behind her, searching for the dark man who haunted her. "Usagi-chan, is everything alright?"
Turning back, she ignored the question. "Are we ready to go see Rei?"
Ami smiled softly. "I was just coming to get you. I need to check my tracker first, and then we can go to her."
"Great."
"Usagi?!"
She glanced back again; Mamoru was coming down the hall for her. "Let's go check that tracker right now, Ami."
Pushing the bluenette, Usagi got them going in the right direction, following her the rest of the way. Mamoru was still behind Usagi, and she knew it, but at least she wouldn't be alone when he finally caught up.
Ami took Usagi to a room that reminded her of the 'screen room' back at the stronghold but bigger and with better tech. The blue girl sat softly in a chair, typing quickly. The black screen at the front of the room lit with light; another large map like before filled the screen. Ami was still typing away when Mamoru walked in, not slowing for a second as he came to her side.
"Usagi… I think you and I need to talk."
Mamoru was right, and she knew it, but she couldn't do it. Not now. Luckily, Ami stopped any such conversation from happening. "This… this can't be right…."
Usagi pulled away from Mamoru and his invisible hold on her, leaning down to Ami. "What? What is it."
Ami was still typing, even with the red dot that now showed up on the screen. "Is that her?"
Ami answered Mamoru with a silent nod. "But… she is not where she is supposed to be…."
"You can say that again; she is in the middle of the Otowa-no-taki. How the hell did she get all the way there?" Mamoru screamed angrily.
"She must be on another one of her assassination attempts." Ami's voice shook as she spoke.
"You mean suicide attempts!"
Usagi was looking back and forth between the two of them, not understanding all that was going on. All she understood was that Rei was at one of the waterfalls near the Kiyomizu-Dera shrine, the castle Jadeite had claimed for himself. Which meant that if Rei was there alone, then she was in serious trouble.
"Let's go. Let's go now!"
"Wait, Usagi-chan!"
"No, Ami! We can't wait, not any longer. Rei has waited long enough!"
Mamoru grabbed Usagi's arm in hopes of slowing her down, but she just ripped it from his grasp, sprinting out of the room and into yet another person. "Whoa, Usagi-chan, where is the fire?"
"Makoto, it's Rei. She's in trouble."
The girl didn't even ask for more; Makoto just looked around Usagi to the two still standing in the room. "Are you two just going to stand there, or are you going to help your Princess? You know she will just go by herself if you refuse!"
"Fine!" Mamoru stood next to Usagi again, giving her an angry yet meaningful look. "But no powers!"
"Mamoru, you expect her to go into the middle of a Youma filled battleground and not use any of her powers?"
Mamoru glared back at Makoto while she tried to defuse it all. "I don't have my henshin anyway."
"She doesn't need it; I will protect her."
Mamoru was practically growling at the two Senshi, Makoto standing up to him while Ami bowed her head in guilt.
And Usagi got irritated. "This is getting us nowhere! Now get over yourselves, and let's go!"
oOo
They weren't kidding when they said Jadeite's 'Palace' was close; the four of them snuck out the way the group came in and returned to the truck they used to drive from the train station to the research center. But they weren't in the car long, easily only thirty minutes and Mamoru stopped the truck. Mercury and Jupiter jumped out first; Mamoru came around the back to grab Usagi by the waist and hoist her out, putting her behind him as they followed the other two.
Usagi had no clue the extent of Mamoru's powers and had yet to receive an explanation for them. It was yet another thing on her list of secrets he was keeping from her, and the longer the list got, the angrier she was with him. She couldn't focus on that now. All she could concentrate on was Rei and getting her to safety.
Something told her it would be bad and Usagi didn't know if she would be able to keep her promise and not use her powers. She wasn't even sure she could without her henshin, but Usagi would still try if she had to.
The forest cut out -or instead ripped out- trees toppled over all around them. They laid on the ground turning back to dirt: rotting away to nothing. The grass had been stripped away as well, soon giving way to rubble and stone; buildings that existed in the area turned to nothing but small rocks and large chunks of cement.
With nothing to cover them, Ami sent out a spray of fog, surrounding them instantly. Whatever good it did (even with the dark cloud-covered sky), the random blob of moisture was sure to stand out. Especially with how quickly it was moving.
As she suspected, their cover didn't last long; rumbling shook the ground, and roars split the silent air. "Here they come."
With a flick of Ami's hand, the fog spread out, covering the ground and helping to aid in the confusion for the creatures as they bounded over the hilltop they stood on. Mamoru grabbed Usagi hard, pulling her to stand before him; Mamoru's hands were out around to anything that tried to touch her. Mercury and Jupiter dusted the first twenty with ease, but more still came, slipping past them to Usagi and Mamoru.
Mamoru dropped Youma after Youma to the ground, each of them shaking with pain until they popped in a small spray of dust.
A few got around behind them: sneaking up. They shoved Mamoru, which had her stumbling out of his hold, and he was surrounded in a second. He held his own but couldn't get back to her. Usagi pulled the knife she was given out of her coat pocket, slashing at the creatures before they could get a good hold on her. With her fist, feet, and knife, Usagi took out six, nothing compared to the others or what she could have done with her henshin.
They were breaking through, though, the Youmas lessening. Soon they were surrounded by silence and dust. "That was too easy, right?"
Makoto asked the other two (Mamoru and Ami); Mamoru confirmed her concern by wrapping Usagi back up in his protective hold, pushing her behind him again.
The valley was filled with small hills made of stones that slipped off of one another. Mamoru had to help Usagi keep her balance more than out of a Youma's hands. And it was all exhausting.
They came to another crest, the last one as the castle came into their sights. Carefully, they half walked, half slid down; another horde of Youmas meeting them at the bottom was twice the last size.
Rei was close, Usagi could feel it, but the stupid Youma were slowing them down so much. And Rei's energy was fading.
Ducking down, she escaped Mamoru's hold, a growl coming from him in response. Nevertheless, she managed to slip past the remaining Youma while their dusting came swiftly after.
Usagi followed the thread to Rei's energy; a large pool opened up before her. Across it was Rei, held down by two Youma while surrounded by five more. And they were all closing in on her.
Usagi's foot touched the pool's edge, and a Youma sprang out, dripping cold water as it collapsed on top of her. Usagi was kicking and punching it, trying to get it off when hands grabbed her and pulled her out from under it. Mamoru stood her up, and the Youma turned to dust (a little faster than the others from his touch).
Mamoru's anger was reflected in his attacks.
More Youmas popped out of the water before Mamoru could yell at Usagi, grabbing both of them and pulling them back and away from one another. Mamoru fought harder, trying to get to her. The sight of his veracity had the two Youma that held her dropping Usagi to the ground and going to help. She could hear Mercury and Jupiter close by, but none of them were close enough to help get to Rei, a Youma on top of the pyro now draining her.
Standing, Youma reached for Usagi, trying to grab her up, but all she could do was push them back and keep her eyes on Rei. Who was dying.
Tears burned Usagi's eyes, being so close and yet unable to stop her friend's death. Then, everything started to burn from Usagi's tears, her chest the strongest, next to her throat as a scream bubbled inside.
"REI!"
A wave of bright pink exploded from her, dusting the Youma surrounding her and several feet instantly. The wave crossed the water, making it to Rei, but only knocked the Youmas around her hard to the ground.
Her eyes still on the Pyro, Usagi watched as Rei's found hers, going wide and then watering within seconds. Mamoru grabbed her again, holding her tight as if he feared she would burst again. But she was grateful, feeling exhausted and struggling to stand. She watched as the Youmas regained themselves, but Mars pulled out a bow of flames, striking each of them in the heart and turning them to dust.
Then she watched as Mars ran through the pool (the water getting up to her knees) and over to them. Usagi struggled, but she got herself out of Mamoru's hold just as Mars made it her, the two of them collapsing together in a heap of tears and exhaustion.
The happy reunion didn't last long, though. On Usagi's knees, arms around Mars, a shiver ran through Usagi.
Something was near.
Hands grabbed her, pulling Usagi up off the ground again. "Save the reunion for later; we need to get out of here now!"
Mamoru had Usagi in his arms again, all while she was searching, looking for the source of the power she now felt. Finally, Mars started to shove the both of them away, "Mamoru, get her out of here. We will hold him off so you can escape."
Picking her up, Usagi pushed and clawed at Mamoru with all her might. "No! Put me down! I have to stay; I have to fight!"
"You can't!"
Mamoru was still moving, taking both of them away from her Senshi. But then he stopped, skidding as he did and turning, putting her under him. It was loud, her ears ringing as they both flew through the air for a second. Then, flipping, Mamoru got his feet under them, somehow managing to keep them upright as they landed even with the ground rolling under Mamoru's feet.
A laugh filled the air, dark and evil. Usagi had heard it before, the sound of it causing a chill to run up her spine and Mamoru to hold her tighter, her feet no longer touching the ground.
The air changed, shimmering before her eyes as his body materialized, Jadeite hanging in the air just above their heads. His eyes were glued to her, recognizing Usagi. "Well, well, well. Look who is alive. After all this time." Her feet touched the ground, Mamoru putting her down and pushing her behind him. Jadeite's eye flexed, noticing the dark man for the first time. His fist flew to his chest, and he bowed his head to him. "My Prince, you have returned as well. I am happy to see you, although I wish the circumstances were different."
Her Senshi flanked them; Jadeite remaining bowed before Mamoru. "What is he talking about?"
Mamoru flinched while Jadeite stood up, laughing again, "After all this time, she still doesn't remember? Oh, how cruel!"
"Shut up, Jad!"
The monster shifted again, looking over at Mars, but his face held none of the venom Mars' did. "Come now, sweetheart, there is no need to be so rude."
"Sweetheart?!"
Mercury gently touched Usagi's shoulder, coming to whisper to her behind Mamoru. "Usagi-chan, you don't remember at all?"
Ignoring the question, she pierced Mercury with her eyes. "Tell me what he is talking about!"
"Why Mars here is my reincarnated wife. My soulmate."
"Fuck you!"
Jadeite sneered at Mars. "I'd love to."
Usagi's head was spinning; the information was so strange and yet, made sense simultaneously. The others were charging up -ready to strike- Mamoru's more than enough to kill the man. "Wait."
Her hands grabbed Mamoru's shirt tight, and even though it was a whisper, she could feel him holding on and waiting at her plea. "Usagi, he needs to be stopped."
The others had sensed their hesitation, lowering their guard as well and waiting, watching her. "He is human… or used to be. We can't kill him."
Jupiter sparked next to her. "If we don't kill him, he will report your return to Beryl. And then the Earth will be consumed by her so that she can find you."
"We can't kill him!"
Jadeite growled above them. "That's sweet, Princess, but I can't say the same for you and your friends."
A blast came. Usagi had distracted all of them thoroughly, and it sent them all flying. Scattered apart, Mamoru had blocked Usagi from the sting of the attack, but not the pain as she rolled across the rocks. Tears blurred her vision, the pain covering her body, but it was ebbing away from her healing. The others were not so lucky, knocked flat on their backs and barely moving.
Mamoru rolled over onto his stomach, trying to crawl to Usagi while her mind and body -in shock- just watched him, not making sense of her surroundings. He whimpered, calling out to Usagi, just as a hand wrapped around her throat, pulling her up from the ground.
"You are far too easy to kill, even if I have to do it twice."
Jadeite allowed just enough oxygen to travel through Usagi's throat to speak. "Why? Why are you doing this?"
Squeezing a little, Jadeite seemed angry just at Usagi's question. "Why? Because you took our Prince away from us!" Usagi shook her head, unable to speak without the oxygen she no longer had. "You may not remember, but I do. And now he and this world lay in ruins all because of you again!"
She gripped his wrist hard, pulling herself up to lessen the pressure on her enough to speak. "Beryl… did that…. not… me."
Suddenly, Jadeite spun Usagi around, bringing her against his chest. Mamoru stood, inches from them, ready to kill him. "I wouldn't if I were you, Endymion. Can you kill me and not hurt her at the same time? Are your skills that good?"
Using her as a shield, Usagi watched as the Senshi rallied, getting to their feet. At the sight of her in Jadeite's hold, each face turned into a mixture of anger and sadness. "Jadeite, please. Let her go."
Mars had tears streaming down her face, and Usagi knew when Jadeite looked at Rei, his hold slacking for just a second when he locked on Mars. "I'm afraid I can't do that, my love. She has to die." His grip on Usagi's throat tightened, any chance of breathing leaving. "And this time, I'm going to do it myself to be sure."
With a whimper, Usagi felt each of them pool their power, ready to strike. The world was starting to spin, lack of oxygen in her brain most likely. Maybe that's why she wasn't scared. Here Usagi was, dying in the same hands responsible for her last death, and she felt no fear. Instead, Usagi felt….. hope.
The pressure on her neck lessened and then faded away completely. Her eyes closed, Usagi slowly opened them, bright light surrounding her and blinding her. This must be heaven. Every inch of her tingled. But, Jadeite was still right behind her.
Slowly, she turned around and faced him, finding him slack-jawed and frozen. Her mouth twisted; his stupor was cute, so she pulled him into a hug. "I forgive you, Jadeite."
Shaky, Jadeite's arms wrapped around Usagi in return, to squeeze her to death, she was sure. But instead, he returned her embrace; his head fell to her shoulder as he cried. The light got brighter and warmer till it popped, the air flexing in response and flowing out across the void. So bright and warm, dancing out to everyone, and Usagi hoped it touched the whole world. Her last hope as she fell into darkness.