CHAPTER SEVEN
She was awake. Wide awake.
Usagi blinked up at the ceiling then turned her eyes to the window. The sky outside was still dark. What time was it? Early, no doubt. Too early. She reached for her alarm clock and stared at the dial before shoving it back on the shelf. 5:30 a.m. on a Sunday, Luna wouldn't believe it. A quick glance at the foot of the bed revealed no sign of the cat. Right. Luna was off with Artemis, her new partner in crime. What a shame, without a witness no one would ever believe that Usagi had woken up so early of her own volition.
She should really go back to sleep. She didn't have to meet up with the girls until ten o'clock, so there was plenty of time for more shuteye, but sleep no longer held the same allure it had a mere eight hours ago. Not with Serenity lurking about in Usagi's subconscious, waiting to invade her dreams.
"…you will never be able to save him."
Serenity's parting words echoed in Usagi's thoughts with haunting finality. What did they mean? Given that she'd woken up immediately after the somber statement had been uttered, Usagi hadn't had a chance to ask. Did Serenity know something Usagi didn't, or had she only said the words in anger? There was no way of knowing without seeing the princess again, and Usagi had little desire to do that.
The rumble of Shingo's loud snores sounded through their shared wall, taunting her sleepless state. Grinding her teeth together, Usagi suppressed an urge to go smother him with a pillow and pushed her covers aside with a groan. There was no sense in lying there, driving herself crazy. If she wasn't going to sleep, she might as well do something. Rising out of bed, she turned her gaze to the closet and sighed. The Sailor Senshi were going skating, and that meant Usagi needed ice skates.
She shuffled across the room and threw the closet doors open wide, revealing the cluttered mess inside. Dragging her weary gaze over the disorganized array of boxes, clothes, and toys, Usagi bit down on her lower lip and winced as her mother's scolding words echoed in her head. 'Don't come crying to me when you can't find anything.' Sinking down on her knees with a sigh, Usagi glanced back at her alarm clock as she reached for the first box. 5:38 a.m.
It was going to be a very long day.
With her ice skates looped over one shoulder and her satchel slung over the other, Usagi sailed into the kitchen in search of sustenance. Her parents gaped as she swept up to the table, amazed no doubt to see her out of bed before noon on a Sunday. Pressed for time, Usagi took advantage of her father's momentary shock by stealing the toast from his hand and pressing a quick kiss against his cheek in trade. Then, sailing back out into the hall, she stuffed the piece of toast in her mouth, pulled on a pair of shoes, and threw open the front door to find Makoto standing on the other side.
Usagi shrieked and dropped her toast while Makoto stood frozen, eyebrows raised, one hand poised to knock on the door. They blinked at each other before Usagi bent to retrieve her discarded snack. "Mako-chan," she said, frowning at the ruined toast before chucking it in a nearby trash can. "What are you doing here? I thought we were all meeting at the arena."
Makoto flashed Usagi one of her easy smiles then reached back to scratch her head. "I thought it'd be nice to walk there together."
Charmed by the thoughtful gesture, Usagi smiled, but after stepping out and closing the door she gave Makoto a puzzled look. "Isn't that a bit out of your way?" It was. Of all the Senshi, Makoto lived closest to the arena. The detour to Usagi's house would have added at least half an hour to her trip.
Makoto waved a breezy hand. "What's a couple of blocks between friends?"
Usagi might have believed the lighthearted dismissal, if Makoto had been able to meet her eyes when she'd said it.
With the recent surge in youma attacks, doubling up made sense when convenient, but this was getting out of hand. Usagi hadn't gone anywhere unaccompanied all week. She loved spending time with her friends, but there was nothing convenient about Ami waiting an hour for her to finish detention, or Rei walking her to school when she didn't even go to Juban. Why was Usagi the only one with a constant escort? It was starting to feel like the girls were manoeuvring behind her back, and that didn't sit well with Usagi at all.
Stealing a glance at Makoto as they turned onto the sidewalk, Usagi debated raising the issue. She didn't want to seem ungrateful; after all, good friends looked out for one another, but this was too one-sided. This 'princess' business was going to throw everything off, Usagi just knew it. In theory, she understood. They'd all been drilled on the mission: find the ginzuishou and the princess and keep them safe. But the princess was supposed to be some dainty, helpless girl who needed protecting, not Usagi. Not Sailor Moon, leader of the Sailor Senshi. Usagi was still a soldier, still a fighter, just like the rest of them. That hadn't changed.
So why did it feel like it had?
It was like the world had shifted beneath her feet and everything was off-kilter, out of whack. Was Usagi the only one who felt this way? They'd all had this huge, earth-shattering revelation dropped in their laps, but they'd barely even talked about it. Why was that? Were the others completely unfazed, or were they just as anxious as her but too scared to say anything? Usagi stumbled as a wild thought popped into her head: what if the others were being haunted by past versions of themselves too? Maybe they were all suffering in silence. If that was the case then Usagi needed to find out. She had to tell—
"Muffin?"
Usagi blinked and stopped short as Makoto thrust something under her nose. Something that smelled marvellous. "Banana," Makoto clarified as the gigantic, steaming muffin came into focus. "I baked them fresh this morning."
All non-muffin related thoughts fled Usagi's mind as she accepted the proffered delicacy with two eager hands. Delighted to discover it was still warm, she lifted the muffin to her nose, inhaled its divine scent, and released a rapturous sigh before taking an enormous bite. A blissful moan escaped her lips as the the sweet, flavourful treat hit her taste buds. "Mmmfff, Mako-chan, this is so good. You're such an amazing baker."
Makoto blushed a becoming shade of pink and flashed Usagi a bashful smile as they resumed walking. "I'm glad you like it," she replied as Usagi munched away. "It was nice to spend some time in the kitchen this morning. It's the first chance I've had to bake all week."
Usagi demolished the muffin in record time then licked the remaining crumbs from her fingers and sighed. "No kidding. There was barely time to eat, let alone cook." When her gaze shifted to the basket, Makoto chuckled and held it out toward her.
Makoto pulled back a linen napkin to reveal a generous supply of the baked goods. "Go ahead, I made plenty." Needing no further encouragement, Usagi snagged a second muffin with greedy fingers. "To be honest," Makoto said, "I wasn't sure if you'd even be awake when I got here. You were so tired yesterday, I figured you might need breakfast on the go."
Notorious for both her legendary appetite and her penchant for sleeping in, Usagi took no offence at Makoto's assumption, but it did give her pause. Swallowing her mouthful, she fingered the remaining portion of her muffin and frowned. "I didn't sleep very well."
"I had trouble sleeping too," Makoto replied.
Usagi looked up in surprise. "You did?" Maybe she'd been right.
Makoto nodded. "Yeah, I guess I was still on edge after the crazy week we've had. I had a hard time winding down enough to fall asleep. I kept thinking the communicator would go off as soon as I closed my eyes." She looked to Usagi. "Same for you?"
"Oh." Usagi averted her gaze. "Yeah." The lie was reflexive, uttered without conscious thought as she fought to quell an irrational surge of disappointment. What was wrong with her? Had she really wanted to hear that Makoto was plagued by the same strange dreams?
"Are you all right, Usagi?" Makoto asked gently.
Unsure of how to respond, Usagi pursed her lips and studied the cracks in the sidewalk as she considered the question. Was she all right? Tough to say. Serenity's unexpected reappearance had her shaken. The encounters felt so real, and yet a part of Usagi remained uncertain. What would Makoto think if Usagi told her about Serenity? Would she tell the others? Would they worry? They were already treating her differently; what would happen if they thought she was going nuts?
Grimacing at the thought of straight jackets and padded rooms, Usagi shook her head. "I'm okay, Mako-chan…" She paused to sigh. "I'm just tired. I could really use a day or two to catch my breath, you know?"
"For sure," Makoto agreed. "I can't help but wonder if all this activity means we're ramping up to something big. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop."
Usagi looked up, brow furrowed. "You think it's gonna get worse?"
Makoto glanced down at her before turning her gaze ahead. "I don't know," she said, fingering one of her rose earrings. "It's just a hunch, but I think the others are worried too." Her grim expression lightened before she shrugged. "Maybe I'm just being paranoid. I get a little crazy when I don't get enough sleep."
"Tell me about it," Usagi muttered, kicking a loose stone onto the street. "I hope you're right—about being tired, I mean. It's hard to imagine things getting any worse. I can't take any more surprises." A gust of wind riffled her bangs, and she traced her fingers across her forehead before fixing her hair. "Do you think this will ever end, Mako-chan?"
"Do I think what will ever end?"
Usagi waved a hand between them. "This. This Senshi stuff. Say we beat the Dark Kingdom; do you think that'll be the end of it? That we won't have to do this anymore? Do you think we'll ever get to be normal girls again?"
Makoto's expression turned thoughtful as they paused at a busy intersection, but she didn't speak until the light changed. "That's not an easy question to answer," she said, stepping down into the street. "I know you don't like being a Senshi, and I totally get that, but my life was different before I met you guys." Makoto placed a hand at Usagi's back to steer her out of the path of a wayward cyclist. "Becoming a Senshi gave me purpose. Joining a team gave me a sense of family. I don't love having to fight either, but if you're asking me would I rather go back to the way life was before all of this, before I met all of you, then I guess my answer would be no."
The candid reply left Usagi at a loss. It hadn't ever occurred to her that Makoto, that any of the girls, would actually choose this life. Was that because the idea was so hard to believe, or was it because Usagi had been too busy thinking about herself to wonder? Ashamed, she halted mid-step and turned to Makoto. "Oh, Mako-chan, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way, honest! I don't want to lose you either. I don't want to lose any of you." Her shoulders sagged. "I just wish we didn't have to fight."
Makoto smiled and touched her wrist. "I know that, Usagi, and don't worry, I'm sure this will all end eventually. Nothing lasts forever, right? As for whether we'll ever be normal again"—she shrugged—"well, what's normal, anyway?"
Usagi forced a half-hearted laugh but the soles of her shoes dragged across the pavement when she and Makoto resumed walking. Maybe Usagi didn't know what normal was, but she knew what it wasn't. It wasn't talking to cats, or having magic powers, or fighting deadly monsters. And it definitely wasn't learning you'd been an alien space princess in a past life. She bit her lip and glanced at Makoto. "So you're not…bothered by any of this past lives stuff?"
Makoto blinked down at her, opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again before reaching up to scratch her chin. "I was surprised at first," she said, "but it really wasn't all that different from finding out I was a Senshi. Once Luna and Artemis explained everything, I figured it didn't make much difference." She shrugged. "I'm still me. A little 'historical context' doesn't change that."
"I'm still me," Usagi echoed without conviction. Why did the statement ring so false? Wasn't she still Tsukino Usagi? Still a junior high school student? Still a daughter, sister, friend? Still a Senshi? Why did this one revelation seem to be eclipsing all of that?
"Of course you are," Makoto said, her tone chipper. "There's just a little more to you now, that's all."
Usagi's mouth twisted in a bitter scowl as they reached a flight of stairs. "I think I'm of the opinion that 'less is more'," she muttered, trudging upward behind Makoto.
When they reached the top Makoto turned and laid a hand on Usagi's shoulder. "You'll always be you, Usagi. Nothing can change that."
Moved by Makoto's sincerity, Usagi forced a grateful smile and nodded. Her friends were amazing…she just wished she felt as certain as Makoto sounded.
"Hey! Usagi, Mako-chan! Over here!"
Buoyed by the call of familiar voices, Usagi turned and spotted Ami, Rei, and Minako gathered a short distance away. Eager to surround herself with friendly faces, she hurried over ahead of Makoto and embraced Ami. Minako smiled while Rei turned to Makoto with raised brows.
"How'd you manage to get her here on time? I figured we'd be waiting at least another half hour."
Makoto wrapped an arm around Usagi's shoulders before she could clap back. "Not today, Rei. Usagi was out the front door before I even got a chance to knock." When Rei's haughty expression melted into mild disbelief Usagi smirked and stuck her tongue out, but Makoto caught the cheeky gesture and hooked her into a gentle headlock before ruffling her hair.
Ever the mature one, Ami cleared her throat and nodded to the crowd gathered in front of the arena. "There certainly seems to be a large turnout." Large was an understatement; there were easily a thousand girls in the throng waiting to be let inside. "A crowd this size would be an ideal target for the Dark Kingdom to harvest energy."
Ami needn't have said it. It was clear from the grim looks on the others' faces that they had already been thinking the same thing.
Minako jerked her chin toward the stairs. "Let's head in." The others set off without a word, and as Usagi followed suit Minako fell into step beside her. When they reached the edge of the crowd, Minako leaned close and murmured, "Remember to be on your guard." Usagi nodded.
She weaved her way through the buzzing swarm, studying each face she passed. Most of the girls looked to be about her age, though some were older. Thankfully there were no children. A hum of excitement filled the air, generating a palpable buzz of energy that made her stomach churn with anxiety. When she reached the entrance, Usagi looked back at the crowd and said a silent prayer. Let them be happy. Let them be safe. But as she walked inside and the doors closed behind her, a chill of foreboding crept down her spine.
Usagi tugged at the fabric of her skating dress in irritation, wishing that she'd had the foresight to try it on before leaving the house. Apparently she had grown more than she'd thought since last winter. The ruffled sleeves were digging into her shoulders, the sweetheart neckline was much less modest than she remembered, and the skintight spandex was riding up in all the wrong places. Uncomfortable as the dress was, the figure skates were infinitely worse.
She'd wanted to leave them off until the absolute last minute, but Makoto had insisted on helping her get them on and laced up. Needless to say, Usagi's trek from the change room to the rink had been a precarious balancing act, and she hadn't even hit the ice yet. The girls had claimed an open spot at the boards, and Usagi had been clinging to them for ten minutes now, grateful to have something to hold on to. Hopefully this lesson would be quick; it hadn't even started yet, but she already couldn't wait to leave.
She was brooding over the niggling ache in her ankles when a single cry rang out and the crowd began to cheer. Bodies surged forward, pressing Usagi up against the boards. Before she could complain a flash of motion caught her eye, and she looked toward the opposite end of the rink just as Janelyn and Misha sailed onto the ice, hand in hand. The championship pair performed a quick circuit around the rink, waving to the cheering crowd as they went. Awed by their sleek confidence and stunning beauty, Usagi forgot her misery and let out a loud whoop of delight.
The Olympians danced around the ice, spinning and jumping in a dazzling display of skill and athleticism. By the time they finished their impressive demonstration Usagi was dumbstruck. She was so enraptured that Rei had to nudge her several times before she realized that Misha and Janelyn had invited the five of them to come out and join them. Usagi's heart soared with excitement then immediately plummeted with dread. She couldn't go out there. Not in front of this crowd.
But the girls were already heading out onto the ice. Frantic, Usagi looked from side to side at the multitude of envious, expectant faces watching her and froze. She'd come here to keep these people safe, not to make a complete and utter fool of herself in front of them. She'd given up her Sunday for this, did she have to give up her dignity as well? Whose stupid idea had it been to stake out a skating rink, anyway? Why couldn't they have gone to a sumo match or a baseball game? The Dark Kingdom probably loved baseball.
"Usagi," Rei hissed, tugging on Usagi's arm. "What are you waiting for?"
Usagi turned to Rei in wide-eyed panic. "Rei," she squeaked, "I can't skate."
Rei gave her a blank stare then frowned, rolled her eyes, and hooked her left arm through Usagi's right. "Come on, you dummy, hold on to me."
Usagi did as she was told, clinging to Rei's arm for dear life as they stepped out onto the ice. Losing her sense of equilibrium almost immediately, Usagi squealed and leaned against Rei for support. Rei squawked and waved her right arm in a wide loop as she fought to keep her balance.
"Don't tug on me like that!"
"Don't push me, I'll fall!"
"We're both going to fall if you don't stop being such a spaz!"
"Hold my hand!"
The two of them squabbled and jostled each other in a spastic struggle to stay upright, oblivious to everyone and everything around them until an uncommon hush descended upon the crowd. Releasing a fistful of Rei's hair, Usagi turned on wobbly legs and spotted a flash of green glide by. Her eyes went wide when she realized what she was seeing.
Emerald skirt fluttering, chestnut ponytail trailing behind her, Makoto sailed across the ice with all the skill and grace of a natural. Ami and Minako skated up alongside Usagi and Rei and the four of them watched in wonder as Makoto floated by in a perfect arabesque, showcasing her tall, athletic figure. Abandoning the pose as she rounded a corner, Makoto picked up speed and Usagi and the others drew in a collective breath when Makoto leaped into the air and completed two full revolutions before touching down again in a flawless landing.
Usagi and the others stared, agog when Makoto joined them a moment later. No one said a word until the sound of solitary clapping shattered their awkward silence. The applause came from none other than Janelyn, who skated over with a look of measured praise on her face. "Very nice," she said to Makoto before running her gaze over the group. When her eyes fell on Usagi and her quivering knees, Janelyn grimaced. "I see we have all levels of talent here today." She turned and waved a hand at the waiting crowd. "Please everyone," she called, "come out on the ice and we'll begin."
There was a frenzy of activity as people began to flood out onto the rink. Janelyn glanced at Makoto then glided up to Usagi and placed a hand on her shoulder. Usagi flinched, surprised not just by the Olympian's attention, but by how cold her hands were. "You look like you could use some one-on-one instruction. Stick around, I'll come find you later." She gave Usagi's shoulder an icy squeeze then skated off into the crowd.
Usagi wobbled around to watch her go and nearly collided with several courageous skaters flying by. Rei managed to catch her as she staggered back, and seeing the danger, the others moved in to surround her. Mindful of Usagi's accident-prone track record, they led her over to the edge of the rink where she could safely cling to the boards.
"So, Mako-chan," Rei said, leaning back against the boards, "that was some show."
"Yes, Mako-chan," Ami chimed in, "you were amazing."
"Why didn't you tell us you could skate like that?" Rei asked.
Makoto blushed and scratched her head. "I, uh, didn't know I could, actually." When the others blinked at her she smiled and shrugged. "I don't know what happened, I just stepped out onto the ice and…something came over me."
Usagi straightened up. "Something came over you? What do you mean?" she asked, trying to swivel around and face Makoto without letting go of the boards. "Like, you weren't in control of yourself?" When Makoto frowned and tilted her head, Usagi schooled her features, reluctant to betray how eager she was to hear Makoto's answer.
"No, I mean— it was more like an impulse. Like as soon as I hit the ice my body knew what to do. Kinda like Senshi instincts, you know?"
Usagi frowned even as the others nodded. Right now her only instinct was to get off the ice.
"Perhaps Luna and Artemis were right," Ami said, crossing her arms. "This could be a manifestation of the abilities you possessed in your previous life."
Rei snorted and dug an elbow into Usagi's ribs, eliciting an angry squeal from her target. "And what about old rubber legs here? Luna and Artemis said the same thing about her, but look at her. She can barely stay upright." Usagi scowled at the insult but held fast to the boards. She would get Rei later when she was back on regular ground.
Ami frowned and pressed a finger to her cheek. "You make a valid point. Without any solid data I can only hypothesize, but…I suppose there could be unknown variables that affect the manifestation of these abilities differently in each of us." She looked to the others for input and flushed when she met four blank stares. Before anyone could ask her to dumb it down, the sound of blades scraping the ice drew the group's attention.
Five pairs of eyes blinked in unison as Misha stared down at them. Flashing a smile that could charm a blind woman, he brushed a hand through his wavy blond hair then extended it to Makoto. "Would you like to skate with me?"
Usagi couldn't see Makoto's face, but judging by the pink hue of her ears, a yes was imminent. She took Misha's hand without a word, and they glided off together with nary a backward glance. Usagi's emotions ping-ponged between joy and envy as she watched them go. She was happy for Makoto, but it would have been nice to be singled out by the hunky skater herself. Of course, seeing as how she was barely able to stand with a firm grip on the boards it wouldn't have done her much good.
Usagi looked to the others. "So, as much fun as this is"—about as much fun as a trip to the dentist—"do you guys think we're about done here? My ankles are killing me."
"Nothing out of the ordinary so far," Ami observed, looking to Rei and Minako.
"We should stay for the whole lesson to be safe," Minako replied, keeping her eyes on the crowd. Rei nodded in agreement.
Usagi groaned and stared down at her skates, willing them to turn into a pair of cozy slippers.
"It's only been twenty minutes, Usagi," Rei said, rolling her eyes. "Suck it up."
Usagi sniffed and hoisted herself up on her elbows to ease the burden on her feet. "Can I at least go to the bathroom?"
Rei leaned forward and narrowed her eyes. "Do you really have to go, or are you just trying to get out of patrol duty?"
Usagi raised an eyebrow. "You want me to pee on you to prove it?"
Rei's features went flat. "This is our princess," she muttered with a roll of her eyes. "Go to the bathroom then," Rei said, pushing off the boards, "but I better see you back here in ten minutes." She turned to Ami and Minako and said, "Let's spread out," before moving to do just that. Usagi blew a raspberry at her retreating back.
Minako skated off in the other direction, but Ami lingered. "Do you need help getting to the washroom, Usagi?"
Usagi shot her a grateful smile before waving her off. "I'll be fine, Ami. Don't worry about me."
Though she looked unconvinced, Ami nodded reluctantly and skated off. Left to her own devices, Usagi checked for an opening in the boards, but the closest gate was at least twenty feet away, which might as well have been a mile with ice skates strapped to her feet. After glancing around to ensure no one was looking, Usagi hoisted herself up over the boards with all the grace and elegance of an ox. Embarrassed, but none the worse for wear, she hobbled away from the rink.
As soon as she was out of sight, Usagi plopped down on the floor and started tugging at her laces. She didn't care what Rei said, she wanted these damn skates off. Once the mile long laces were loose enough, Usagi yanked the torturous footwear off her feet and breathed a sigh of relief before standing up. There was no way she was putting those skates back on. If the others asked, she'd tell them she broke a lace on the way to the bathroom.
Padding down the hall in her stockings, she turned a corner and caught a glimpse of Janelyn entering a nearby room. Surprised to see the star off the ice, Usagi considered asking for a quick autograph, but the door had already clicked shut before she could open her mouth to call out. Frowning, she wandered over and raised a fist to knock then hesitated. She couldn't say why, but something about Janelyn had made her uneasy. Maybe she was just being shy, but the thought of a private one-on-one made Usagi's stomach knot up.
She stepped away and continued down the hall until she reached the change room. Pleased to find it empty, she tossed her skates into a corner and dropped down on the nearest bench with a sigh. What a day. Hijacked in a dream, jolted awake before the crack of dawn, dragged to an arena, and forced to face the fact that she would never realize her fantasy of becoming a world famous figure skater. All that, and it wasn't even noon.
Usagi swung a leg over the bench and let herself fall back against the polished wood. Maybe there was still time to salvage the day. If the lesson wrapped up without any trouble—which seemed pretty likely—the afternoon would be wide open. Maybe she would go get lunch with the girls. Afterwards they could go see a movie or…or go to the arcade. Maybe Motoki would be there. Maybe Usagi would finally have a chance to talk to him about Mamoru.
Maybe…
"…you will never be able to save him."
Or maybe not.
Usagi sat up and scrubbed a hand over her face. Why had Serenity said that? What was her problem? Didn't she understand how worried Usagi was? How guilty she felt? If Serenity knew how to save Mamoru, then she should just come out and say it. Usagi didn't want to listen to any more of her cryptic BS, she wanted answers. What had she even said, anyway? Usagi screwed her eyes shut and tried to remember the puzzling words. Something about a fractured subconscious? What did that even mean? Was she broken?
Lost in thought, she let her gaze drift around the empty room until it settled on her discarded skates. Her eyes narrowed as several thoughts converged at once, shifting her focus. Luna and Artemis had said Serenity and Jupiter had been gifted skaters, but today Makoto had flourished and Usagi had failed. Why? Neither of them had any formal training, so why was Makoto performing double axels while Usagi fell on her face? What did Makoto have that Usagi didn't?
Aside from strength, athleticism, and grace.
"I'm still me."
Makoto's calm, self-assured statement from earlier that morning sailed through Usagi's mind like a banner, proclaiming Makoto's advantage with stunning simplicity. Was that it? Was Makoto's certainty the reason why she could suddenly hold her own with gold medallists? Would Usagi be out there wowing the crowd if she weren't so…what had Serenity said? Conflicted? Was that holding her back somehow?
Usagi shook her head and reached down to massage her calves. She didn't really care if she could skate. Sure, it looked like fun, but in reality it was just prancing around in a tight costume, getting bumped and bruised. Usagi did more than enough of that already, without the painful footwear. But was that it, or were there other talents locked away? Other abilities beyond her reach? Something more important than figure skating?
"…you will never be able to save him."
A shrill buzzer shattered the silence, jolting Usagi from her thoughts. "Attention, everyone," Janelyn's voice boomed out of the arena's speaker system. "Today's skating lesson is over. Please collect your belongings and go."
Usagi frowned and checked her wristwatch. The flyer had promised a two hour session, but it had only been thirty minutes. Had something happened? Anxious, she surged to her feet and rushed out the door and into the hall. Running into a crowd of people as soon as she rounded the first corner, Usagi slowed her pace and weaved her way through a sea of disappointed girls, catching snippets of conversation as she went. It was mostly grousing about the lesson being cut short; no one was running or screaming, which was a good sign. Spotting a shock of blue hair at the back of the herd, Usagi made a beeline for it and met up with Ami, Minako, and Rei.
"What's going on?" Usagi asked before noticing that the group was short one person. "Where's Mako-chan?"
"We don't know why they're making us leave," Minako answered, exchanging looks with Ami and Rei. "Everything was fine, and then we heard the announcement."
"Misha asked Makoto to stay behind with him for a private lesson," Rei said, crossing her arms. "Naturally, she agreed."
"So, what now?" Usagi asked, scratching her left arm. The fabric of her skating dress was starting to itch. "Can we go watch?"
Ami looked to Rei before replying. "I think it's meant to be a private session. Mako-chan asked us if we could meet up later, and we said okay."
"She's crushing on him hard," Rei added. "You know how she is."
Usagi hooked an arm through Rei's and nudged her hip. "Don't be such a grump, Rei. It could be true love. I'm sure he's nothing like—"
"—her old boyfriend?" Rei finished.
Their eyes met, and they burst into a fit of giggles as they walked toward the change room.
They were walking out the front entrance when Usagi realized she'd forgotten her skates, and for a brief moment, she considered leaving them behind. Who knew? Some kind member of the arena staff might find them and give them to their daughter. Perhaps that girl would discover that she possessed an innate talent for the sport and go on to win a gold medal one day. All because of Usagi's single act of charity…
Or perhaps someone would throw them in the lost and found, and they'd eventually wind up in the trash. Even if a part of her thought that they belonged there, Usagi knew she had to go get them. Her parents had spent good money on them, and if they found out she'd abandoned them after two uses, Usagi could kiss her allowance goodbye. Sighing, she came to a halt and announced she had to turn back. Rei was a pill about it, but Ami and Minako agreed to wait, so Usagi jogged back to the doors, promising to be quick and flipping Rei the bird when she threatened to leave without her.
The halls were quiet and empty, and a slight chill in the air spurred Usagi to pick up the pace. After only one wrong turn, she found her way back to the change room and retrieved her skates, but when she was retracing her steps, Usagi passed by an open door and paused. Her lips pursed in a frown before she pivoted and peered around the edge of the doorway for a closer look. The room was dark, save for the glow from a bank of monitors on the far wall. Usagi stared into the eerie gloom for several seconds before she realized what had made her stop.
This was the same room she'd seen Janelyn walk into earlier.
There was no sign of the star now, not that Usagi could see much in the dark. She felt around for a light switch, but when she didn't find one she stepped further into the room, drawn to the flickering glow at the far wall. A bank of monitors—there had to be at least twenty of them—displayed footage from the morning lesson, save for a single blank screen near the middle. It was broken—shattered, in fact—as though someone had put their fist straight through it. Usagi stared at the shards of glass scattered across the desk and floor below before turning her gaze to the working displays.
Young girls skated around the rink, oblivious to the fact that they were being recorded. A few of the screens even showed footage of Usagi and the others, but she wasn't paying attention to them. Usagi's gaze was fixed on one monitor in particular, its red glow reflected in her wide eyes as she struggled to understand what she was seeing. A split screen displayed two images: on the right, a candid shot of Makoto on the ice, and on the left, a computer generated rendering of what was unmistakably Sailor Jupiter.
Usagi stood frozen in place, unable to tear her gaze away from the incomprehensible display. Indicators flashed along the familiar silhouette, pointing out similarities in height, build, hair colour, skin tone, but it was the one word flashing at the center of the screen that seared itself into Usagi's mind and struck fear into her heart.
MATCH.
Her communicator beeped, shattering her concentration. She pulled it out of her jacket, hit the flashing orange button, and Minako's worried face lit up the small video screen. "Usagi," she said with a note of urgency, "where are you?"
Before Usagi could answer, Rei's shrill voice rang out through the tinny speakers. "Is she all right?" Minako disappeared before Rei's face came into view. Her expression was frantic. "Are you all right?" she demanded.
"I'm fine," Usagi told her, nodding for effect.
"Where are you?" Rei asked before Usagi could say anything else.
"I'm still inside," Usagi answered, glancing back at the worrisome monitor where Makoto's image flashed like a beacon of warning. Usagi swallowed her panic as it tried to force her heart into her throat. "You guys need to get in here."
Rei scowled. "We're locked out."
Usagi's gaze shot back to the tiny screen. "What? What do you mean?" she demanded as her feet began to move of their own volition.
"The roller shutters on all the doors slammed shut a minute ago. They're locked tight," Rei told her. "What's going on in there?"
"I don't know," Usagi said, biting down on her lower lip as she exited the room. "Rei, I think Mako-chan is in trouble."
Rei's eyes narrowed. "What's wrong, Usagi?"
Usagi was already heading down the hall, but she glanced back at the open doorway before casting a harried look at the communicator. "I don't know yet. There's no time to explain right now, but I—"
"Stop." Rei's voice boomed out of the underpowered speakers, scratchy yet commanding. "What are you doing? Where are you going?"
"I've got to find Mako-chan," Usagi replied, picking up the pace.
"No, Usagi, you need to stay put," Rei told her. "We're looking for another way in right now. Find a safe place and wait for us."
Usagi stopped in her tracks. Not because Rei had told her to, but because she couldn't believe Rei had told her to. "Rei, Mako-chan's in trouble! I know it. I don't have time to wait for you."
"Usagi, it's too dangerous. Just wait until we—"
"No," Usagi declared, cutting Rei off. "Mako-chan needs me. I'm going. Try and get here as quick as you can."
"Usagi!" the communicator screeched, but Usagi hit the orange button in the next instant, silencing Rei's protests. She shoved it in her pocket then took off in a full on sprint toward the skating rink. Usagi knew Makoto needed her, she could feel it in her bones. Reaching for her brooch, she called out the transformation phrase that would grant her the strength she needed to help her friend.
The powerful magic wrapped itself around Usagi as she ran, and she was glad for the extra grip her boots provided as she shot around a corner and neared the tunnel to the ice. She halted there in a moment of indecision, shifting her gaze between the ground floor opening and the stairs that led up to the stands. Figuring that the high ground would give her an advantage, Usagi headed for the stairs.
Cruel laughter sounded in the distance, spurring her to take the stairs two at a time as she raced to reach the top. She nearly hurtled over the row seating when she got there, stopping short in the nick of time. The elevated vantage point afforded her a clear view of the rink, and the air rushed from Usagi's lungs when she spotted Makoto down on the ice. Usagi recoiled at the sight of Makoto slumped against the boards, bruised and bloodied, her simple green skating dress tattered and torn. Someone had attacked her. Beaten her. Made her bleed. Makoto. Strong, beautiful Makoto.
Clenching her fists, Usagi forced herself to look away. To search for those responsible. Those who would be punished.
Her eyes caught a glimpse of black and red, and she registered a tuxedo and a satin-lined cape before her mind went blank. When her knees threatened to buckle, Usagi grabbed hold of a chair and squeezed her eyes shut, begging her brain to reboot, re-examine, reassess. Taking a breath, she opened her eyes and looked again. The tuxedo was still there as was the cape, but there was no mask, no hat. It wasn't him. Usagi's grip eased. It was Misha and Janelyn. Their skin was pale as ice and their hair and clothes had changed, but it was them. Usagi's gaze shifted back to Makoto. They had done this to her. Usagi would make them pay.
"How dare you use such beautiful talents to harm an innocent girl!" she shouted, striking a familiar pose. "I am Sailor Moon, and in the name of the moon"—for Makoto—"I will punish you!"
When Misha and Janelyn smiled in response, Usagi suppressed an urge to fire her tiara at them then and there. "Sailor Moon," Janelyn greeted, her red eyes flashing. "Just the one we were looking for."
Misha ran a hand through his wavy green hair before extending it toward Usagi. "Give us the ginzuishou."
"Not a chance," Usagi said, hoisting herself up over the railing and launching herself forward through the air. She braced in anticipation of the ice below, semi-confident that she would be able to navigate the slick surface in her boots. She was not, however, prepared for blades to magically spring forth from the soles of said boots.
Her right foot came down at an awkward angle, causing the blade to catch the ice all wrong. Usagi flailed her arms in a wild bid to stay upright before crashing down hard on the ice. As she lay stunned, her mind replayed past discussions with the Senshi on the impracticalities of their uniforms. Mini-skirts and high heels were enough to contend with; why on earth would her boots suddenly decide to sprout ice blades?
Usagi attempted to get up but without something stable to hold on to she kept falling back down. Staring at the blades in disgust, she tried to will them away, but they refused to disappear. The boots were a total liability; so long as she wore them, she would be a sitting duck. She'd be better served taking them off and using them as weapons. Misha and Janelyn's mocking laughter sounded in her ears.
"Some soldier," Janelyn jeered.
"This will be easy," Misha said with a smirk.
Usagi cringed when the pair joined hands and began a slow spin. Their speed increased with each rotation, building momentum until they were little more than a blur of motion. They cried, "Death Spiral!" in unison as Misha completed one final revolution, then he released Janelyn's hand and launched her straight at Usagi.
As the maniacal Olympian hurtled toward her, eyes glinting with murderous glee, Usagi briefly wished she had listened to Rei. Her panicked screech rent the air as she scrambled to get out of harm's way, but the ice was too slick and her feet were too clumsy to gain any purchase. Out of time, Usagi closed her eyes and raised her arms in a feeble attempt to shield herself from the imminent frontal assault.
To her surprise, the impact came from the side instead. Air rushed from her lungs as a body collided with hers, pulling her up and away with dizzying momentum. Strong arms wrapped around her waist to hold her steady as her feet struggled to catch the ice at the correct angle. Eager to replenish her depleted oxygen, Usagi sucked in a frantic breath and stiffened when a familiar scent wafted through her nostrils. Roses.
Dazed, she stared down at the arms encircling her waist, taking in the black woollen sleeves and white gloved hands before a stunning thought entered her mind, taunting her with elusive possibility. Usagi's heartbeat accelerated as she wrenched her neck around and dragged her eyes upward. What she saw made her heart stop completely. Or rather, whom.
"Tuxedo Kamen," Usagi said, her voice no louder than a whisper.
He was alive.
He was safe.
He was here.
Usagi stared up at him, wide-eyed, mouth agape, mind bursting with questions. How was he here? Where had he come from? Had he escaped the Dark Kingdom? Was he all right? Usagi wanted to ask him all of this and much, much more, but when she opened her mouth to speak all she managed to say was, "You can skate."
She was a moron.
To his credit, Tuxedo Kamen flashed her a tight smile. "A lucky happenstance."
Bolstered by his friendly response, Usagi attempted to gain control of her racing thoughts. No easy task with his arms wrapped around her waist, wreaking havoc on her senses. Her mind was a chaotic jumble of tangled thoughts and mixed emotions, making it all but impossible to focus on any one thing at a time. When his fingers curled around her hip, she nearly forgot her own name. Screwing up every ounce of concentration she had, Usagi tried once again to put thought to word.
"You saved me."
Forget moron, she was a complete imbecile.
Tuxedo Kamen's grip tightened on her hip before he cocked his head. "Don't I always?"
He did. He had always been there to save her. Ever since that first night in the jewellery store when she'd been huddled on the floor, terrified and wailing, desperate to wake up and find it had all been a bad dream. Then Tuxedo Kamen had swept in with a rose and a rousing speech, and Usagi had found her salvation. More importantly, she had found her courage. From that day forward, he had never failed to show up whenever she needed him…
…until this past week. Usagi could hardly begin to sort through the complicated emotions overwhelming her, but one feeling in particular stood out above the rest: her immense relief. Wherever he had been, however he had gotten here, Usagi was certain of one thing. How glad she was to see him.
"Ah, a dark knight swoops in to save the day."
Misha's jeering voice interrupted Usagi's thoughts, snapping her to attention. She'd nearly forgotten she was in the middle of a battle. Craning her neck to see past Tuxedo Kamen's broad frame, Usagi spotted Janelyn and Misha skating alongside them, arms crossed and looking much too casual for her liking.
"Do not think you are safe now, Sailor Moon," Janelyn warned, "just because your hero is here. We will beat the both of you. There are none who can equal our mastery on the ice."
"Don't be so sure," Tuxedo Kamen countered. "You would be foolish to underestimate us."
Tuxedo Kamen's self-assured reply, paired with his arrogant smirk, made Usagi understandably anxious. "I don't think they are underestimating things, actually," she told him as her feet wobbled beneath her. "We need to get off the ice, I'm useless on these skates." As if to prove her point, the toe kick on her right blade caught the ice, pitching her forward. Tuxedo Kamen cinched his arm around her waist and hauled her back up against him before she could fall.
He dipped his head and murmured, "Follow my lead," before turning his attention back to their opponents. "Do you realize who you're up against? This is Sailor Moon. It will take more than fancy footwork to bring her down." More frustrated than flattered by his breezy claim, Usagi squashed an urge to argue and told herself to trust him.
Misha and Janelyn, meanwhile, looked intrigued. "Really?" Misha said. "You think you possess enough skill to challenge us?"
"I think this is a battle, not the Ice Capades," Tuxedo Kamen replied in a low tone, "and you would be hard pressed to best us in a fight." The atmosphere shifted in an instant. Violence crackled through the air, charged by the underlying aggression in his words. As Misha and Janelyn narrowed their eyes, Usagi cast an uncertain glance at Tuxedo Kamen. Had he always been this cocky? While she appreciated his confidence in her ability, Usagi knew very well that in this particular instance it was sorely misplaced.
"Bold words," Misha said.
"Let's see if you can back them up with action!" Janelyn added before they flew into motion.
Usagi flinched as the pair headed toward them. "I hope you have a plan," she said, leaning toward the boards with longing.
Tuxedo Kamen shifted his hold, tucking her closer against his side as he steered them toward the far end of the ice. "I know what I'm doing."
Usagi stumbled and clung to his arm. "That makes one of us."
He turned, and as they rounded the boards Usagi caught a glimpse of Makoto. Spurred by the instinct to go to her friend's aid, she tried to veer off, but Tuxedo Kamen tightened his grip, anchoring her to his side. When Usagi opened her mouth to object, he quelled her protest with a sharp look.
"You need to focus."
Usagi considered his words before turning her attention to Misha and Janelyn, who were hot on their trail. He was right, they needed to eliminate the threat, then she could tend to Makoto. Tuxedo Kamen's hands circled Usagi's waist before he pulled her in front of him, drawing her back against his chest. Her breath hitched as his tall, lean form curled around her, enfolding her in his warmth. She trembled when his fingertips brushed the spot above her navel, conjuring a kaleidoscope of butterflies in her stomach. When his head dipped down next to hers and his lips grazed her ear, her skin tingled from head to toe.
"Get ready," he murmured, sending her mind racing with all kinds of flustered imaginings.
Time slowed as Usagi's heart pounded a wild rhythm in her chest. She could barely think with Tuxedo Kamen's breath tickling her cheek, his warm chest pressed against her back, his long fingers clasped around her waist. The air grew thin and her head began to swim as her breathing became increasingly shallow. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to force her mind to focus on something else.
"I'm going to throw you."
Usagi's eyes popped open. Clamping her hands down on his, she whipped her head around, bringing them nose to nose. "You're going to what?"
There was no time to explain. Their pursuers had overtaken them. Misha reached out for Usagi's arm and in a blur of motion Tuxedo Kamen pivoted, tightening his vice-like grip on Usagi's waist before hoisting her up into the air. Stunned, she failed to react as his hands released her. Then, when she realized what had happened, she thrashed around like a fish out of water. When Tuxedo Kamen reached out to catch her—apparently this had been part of his plan—Usagi was a spastic mass of flailing limbs.
She hit the ice hard, crashing down on her left foot with an agonizing crunch. White hot pain jolted through her ankle like a bolt of lightning, wrenching a cry from her throat. She reached for the injured joint, desperate to soothe the pain, but any attempt to move her leg only made it worse. When Tuxedo Kamen crouched down in front of her, none the worse for wear, Usagi couldn't stifle her look of resentment.
"We have to get you off the ice," he said. Before she could snarl a frustrated, 'I told you so' Tuxedo Kamen leaned forward and scooped her up into his arms. Usagi whimpered as he whisked her away to the boards in record time and exited the ice with all the deftness of a gymnast. Bitter and sullen, Usagi thought of her own oxen-like exit earlier that day and scowled.
"Running away already?"
Usagi's gaze snapped to Misha and Janelyn, who were still on the ice, sporting smug expressions. Tuxedo Kamen seemed unconcerned, smirking as he adjusted Usagi's weight in his arms before he turned and headed for the nearest exit. Catching a glimpse of movement in the periphery of her vision, Usagi looked back over his shoulder and tensed.
Makoto was beginning to stir. Heart clenching at the thought of abandoning her injured friend, Usagi made a sound of protest and wriggled in Tuxedo Kamen's arms. When he ignored her and kept moving, she frowned and fisted the lapel of his jacket to get his attention. "We have to go back and help—"
"Forget your distractions and focus," he said, shaking his head as they exited under the stands. "They don't care about innocent bystanders, you're the one they want. Where you go, they'll follow."
Usagi flinched at his brusque tone then silently chewed over his words. While it made sense to draw the danger away, she was still uneasy leaving Makoto behind. Hopefully the other Senshi had found a way inside and would help Makoto while Usagi and Tuxedo Kamen distracted Janelyn and Misha. A quick glance behind her confirmed that the pair were giving chase, but for how long? Tuxedo Kamen couldn't haul her around the arena forever. They needed a plan.
Usagi turned her attention to her ally. His mouth was drawn in a tight line as he focused on evading their pursuers. As always, the white mask concealed his eyes, but Usagi's fingers no longer twitched with the familiar urge to reach up and pull it away. Now that she knew what lay beneath she was suddenly grateful for the small barrier.
When he darted around a corner she clasped his shoulders and asked, "Where are we going?"
"We need to lose them for a few minutes," Tuxedo Kamen said without looking at her. When they passed a doorway he paused and looked back, checking to ensure the coast was clear. It was. Arms full, he nodded to the doorknob and Usagi hastened to move to his aid. Thankfully, the door was unlocked. When the latch clicked open he pivoted and nudged the door wide with his shoulder.
The room inside was dark, and Usagi's vision struggled to adjust after the stark contrast of the hallway's bright fluorescent lightning. Tuxedo Kamen strode forward with confidence, locating a small bench where he could set her down then doubling back to the door. His tall silhouette merged with the darkness before Usagi heard the distinct click of a lock turning in place.
A moment later he was back in front of her, kneeling down to inspect her ankle. His hands slipped around her left calf, and though he wore gloves and her boots rose to the knee, Usagi swore she could feel the heat of his touch. She closed her eyes and drew in a shaky breath as her stomach fluttered and her pulse quickened.
"May I?"
When she opened her eyes again Tuxedo Kamen was looking at her, hands poised to remove her boot. She gulped before nodding her head, then he slid the boot from her leg, taking care not to jostle her ankle any more than necessary. It came off easier than expected, and Usagi curled her bare toes, feeling strangely exposed. Hunching over, she wrapped her fingers around the edge of the bench and held her breath as he began to prod her wounded ankle.
He had a light touch but the joint was swollen and angry, inflamed by the injury. Distractedly, Usagi noticed that her right foot was flat on the floor; the blades had vanished. Good riddance. She'd made a fool of herself out there on the ice, unable to stand, let alone fight. If Tuxedo Kamen hadn't come when he had…
A week had passed since Usagi had last seen him, and the memory of him lying in her lap, pale and wounded, still made her tremble, etched in her mind with stunning clarity. A sudden urge to see his face made her reach forward, but she yanked her hand back just as quickly, too shy to follow through. Luckily he had his head down and seemed too absorbed in his task to notice. Tucking her hand beneath her thigh, Usagi stared at his top hat and considered their situation.
He'd been on death's door when last she'd seen him and yet he seemed fine now. Hale and hearty and tending to her wound as though nothing was amiss. It didn't make any sense; the Senshi had said he'd been taken by the Dark Kingdom. If that was true, how was he here with her? Had the enemy let him go? Had he escaped? If so, when? Usagi hadn't seen any sign of him or—
She winced and bit down on her lower lip when his grip tightened on her ankle. He didn't look up and she didn't make a sound, but the air seemed to crackle around them. Something was off, something had changed, between them. They both knew it, but why were neither of them talking about it?
Usagi felt as startled as Tuxedo Kamen looked when she laid a tentative hand on his shoulder. As they regarded each other in the tense silence, Usagi sensed now more than ever that his white mask was hiding much more than just his eyes. "What—" she began before halting. "Where—" she tried before failing again. Taking a moment to calm her nerves, she drew in a deep breath then released it. "How are you here?" Satisfied to have finally voiced a complete sentence, Usagi waited for his answer with an expectant gaze.
Tuxedo Kamen trailed a bare finger up the side of her calf—when had he removed his glove?—then quirked an eyebrow. "I go where you go."
Any other day Usagi would have been tongue-tied by his touch, charmed by his simple reply, but not today. This was no time to be flippant. Her eyes narrowed. "That's not—that's not an answer. How are you here?" she repeated, raising her hands to gesture to their surroundings. "You were hurt. They took you. The Dark Kingdom, I mean. The Senshi told me. Where were you? What happened? How did you get away?"
She'd gone from one question to several, but she needed answers. Needed to know the truth. All of it, even the parts she didn't want to hear. Only then could they figure out how to proceed. How to make this work.
Tuxedo Kamen lowered his gaze to her ankle before offering a single response. "They set me free."
Usagi waited for him to say more, but he offered no further explanation. "They set you free?" she echoed, willing him to meet her gaze as she tried to process the simple statement. Several interminable moments passed before he did, but as always that infuriating mask shielded his eyes from her gaze. Filled with a renewed desire to rip it from his face, Usagi fisted her hands and glared. "Why would they do that?"
His face betrayed no reaction but his hand clamped around her ankle with startling force, eliciting an involuntary squawk of protest from Usagi. "Because I asked them to." Before Usagi could question his incredible response he spoke again. "We don't have time for this. Your ankle isn't broken, just sprained. Easily fixed."
Usagi opened her mouth to ask him what he meant but a sudden flare of heat wrapped around her ankle, intense enough to steal her breath. For a brief moment it felt like his fingers were sinking into her flesh, fusing them together, but in the next instant the heat was gone, along with his hand.
"There," Tuxedo Kamen said, rocking back on his heels. "Good as new."
Usagi frowned down at her ankle before setting it flat on the floor. Cautious but also curious, she pressed down gingerly and found the joint bore her weight without difficulty. Her eyes widened before raising to his face. "How—" she began, but he was already handing her back her boot.
"Quick, put it on before they find us."
Dumbfounded, Usagi took the boot and awkwardly tugged it up her leg as a wave of fresh questions flooded her mind. He'd just healed her, but how? Did he have healing powers? If so, why keep them a secret? What else was he hiding?
Before she could question him, Tuxedo Kamen gripped her hands and tugged her up from the bench. "You'll need to cleanse them," he said, planting his hands on her shoulders.
"What?" Usagi asked, thrown by the sudden shift in topic.
"Cleanse them," he repeated, slower this time. "They've been corrupted with dark energy."
"Oh," Usagi said as understanding dawned. "Yeah, right…of course." She nodded and swallowed, shelving her burning questions for later so her mind could shift gears and focus on the task at hand. When she made to head for the door Tuxedo Kamen's hands clamped down on her shoulders, holding her in place. She looked up, and as her eyes scanned the firm line of his mouth an inexplicable tremor of unease ran down her spine. "What is it?"
"You'll need your wand," he said, his shuttered gaze trained on her face. "Do you have it?"
"I—do I—" Usagi's brow furrowed as she studied his face while puzzling over his question. "Of course I do." Again, she made to head for the door but his hands slid down and gripped her biceps, preventing her exit. Equally confused by his odd behaviour and the rising wariness in her gut, Usagi's mouth opened in silent question.
"Get it out," Tuxedo Kamen said, issuing the words like an order.
The hair on the back of Usagi's neck rose as instinct urged her to draw back and put some much needed distance between them. She tried to step away but his strong grip refused to budge. "What are you—" she stammered, reaching up to pry his hands from her arms. "What are you doing?" Tuxedo Kamen gave her a small shake to stymie her efforts before pulling her forward, erasing the space between them. Usagi stared up, wide-eyed at his imperious expression.
This wasn't the Tuxedo Kamen she knew.
When a sudden rattling sounded from the far side of the room they both froze. Someone was at the door, trying the locked handle. Distracted by this possible new threat, Usagi yelped in surprise when she was unceremoniously thrust forward. A second later the door burst inward off its hinges then slammed down against the floor with deafening force. Sailor Jupiter's tall, imposing silhouette stood framed in the newly open doorway.
"Jupiter!" Usagi cried before breathing a heavy sigh of relief.
Jupiter rushed over and clasped Usagi's shoulders. "Sailor Moon, are you all right?" She ran her hands down Usagi's arms and gave her a thorough once over before peering around the dark room. "What are you doing in here?"
Usagi was so relieved to see Jupiter conscious and unharmed that she'd nearly forgotten about Tuxedo Kamen. Turning, she began to explain, "We were—" but the words died on her lips as she discovered he was gone. She scanned the empty room but there was no sign of the masked man. Where was he? He'd been standing right in front of her, how had he vanished without her noticing? Reeling from the shock of his sudden disappearance, it took Usagi a few seconds to realize that Jupiter was talking.
"…looking all over for you. I woke up on the ice, but Misha and Janelyn were gone," Jupiter said, taking Usagi's hand and pulling her toward the door. Usagi followed on wooden legs, glancing back over her shoulder with a puzzled frown as they exited the room. "Mars told me you were still in the building when they got shut out. We were going to look for you when Misha and Janelyn came back. The girls are fending them off as best they can, but we need you to cleanse them with your wand."
The familiar words brought Usagi out of her daze, redirecting her thoughts to those final, bizarre moments with Tuxedo Kamen. He'd been acting so strange…not just at the end, but earlier too. Showing up out of the blue, evading her questions, whipping out magical healing powers like it was no big deal, and then… Then that business with the wand.
Until today, Usagi had never felt anything but safe in his presence. But for a few brief moments she'd felt uneasy. Threatened. Afraid. What had made him act like that? What had made her fear him? And what, she wondered, would have happened if Jupiter hadn't shown up when she did?
The din of battle reached Usagi's ears before they rounded the last corner, drowning out her troubling thoughts. When they arrived at the rink the air was dense with fog, obscuring their view of the battlefield. A flash of bright flame blazed through the thick haze, illuminating three figures. Venus was crouched on the ice less than ten feet away from Misha and Janelyn.
Jupiter reached the boards first and turned to Usagi. "I'll get out there and help the others distract them so you can do your thing, okay?" Usagi nodded and Jupiter leaped into the fray, calling down her lightning as she went.
Left alone, Usagi eyed the ice with a wary gaze before glaring down at her boots. "Don't even think about it," she warned. Then, holding her breath, she vaulted over the boards. Faltering when her blade-less feet hit the slick surface, she flailed her arms to regain her balance. Jupiter's battle cry sounded through the fog, and Usagi wobbled as Misha and Janelyn crashed down onto the ice a short distance away. That was her cue. There was really no need to get any closer, her aim was impeccable.
Closing her eyes, Usagi summoned her wand. Its solid weight materialized in her hand, and she spared it a brief glance as she planted her feet on the ice. The ginzuishou's benign glimmer raised an uneasy flutter in her gut, but she dismissed it as nothing more than nerves. Disinclined to spew her customary preamble, Usagi stretched out her arm and took aim before reciting her incantation. Healing magic coursed out of the wand and enveloped Misha and Janelyn in its soothing light, removing all traces of contamination. When the purified pair sank to the ice, Usagi breathed a sigh of relief.
Without warning, pain sliced across the back of her outstretched hand, quick and vicious. The sudden blow caused her grip to falter, and the wand clattered against the ice. Stunned, Usagi drew the injured hand to her chest. Her glove was slashed and a thin red line of blood seeped from the fresh wound. Before she could question the injury another glimpse of red on the periphery of her vision caught her attention, drawing her gaze down to the ice.
At first her eyes refused to focus. Then, all at once, the object became clear. A single red rose tilted up toward her, its long stem embedded in the ice just beyond her feet. Usagi watched in mute incomprehension as its petals turned from crimson to black, then a soft quiver of foreboding shuddered through her as confusion gave way to alarm. She whipped her head around and gasped. Tall and forbidding, Tuxedo Kamen loomed at her back, staring down at her with grim determination. Time seemed to stop as Usagi gazed up at his impenetrable white mask, a silent question in her eyes.
She could sense the moment his attention shifted away from her. Acting on sheer instinct, Usagi spun around, lunged forward, and grabbed the wand a mere instant before he could. A moment later his arms wrapped around her from behind, jerking her back against him then pulling her up and off her feet. Usagi kicked out in desperation, fighting to break free of his hold, but his arms had locked around her like a vice. When her heel made contact with something solid he uttered a low grunt, spurring her to double her efforts.
Engrossed in her struggle, Usagi barely registered Venus's cry of attack. A bright surge of light flashed past Usagi's head before Tuxedo Kamen suddenly let go and she fell to the ice. Usagi wasted no time, scrambling away with clumsy haste until she collided with Jupiter. Mercury hurried to her side and placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, while Mars stood frozen a few feet away, sporting a look of pure astonishment.
Venus positioned herself at the forefront of their group and assumed an offensive stance, locking her watchful gaze on Tuxedo Kamen. Safely ensconced in the protective orbit of her Senshi, Usagi allowed her eyes to return to him. He stood roughly twenty feet away, lips drawn in a grim line, clutching his left shoulder. Usagi's fingers tightened on the wand as her mind worked to make sense of what had just happened.
Mars stepped forward and raised a hand to her chest. "Tuxedo Kamen," she said, her voice full of awe and uncertainty. "You're here." Her eyes darted between him and Usagi. "But why…"
Tuxedo Kamen threw Mars a cursory glance before settling his attention on Sailor Venus. Venus said nothing but her rigid posture betrayed her mistrust. Tuxedo Kamen flinched as he squeezed his injured shoulder before letting his hand drop to his side with a dismissive shrug. His cane materialized in his hand, and he rapped it against the ice in a show of agitation. "The best laid plans…" he muttered, almost too quiet for Usagi to hear.
Usagi's pulse fluttered in her throat as his gaze shifted past Venus to her. "I've come for the ginzuishou," he declared. The chill in his tone sent a shiver down her spine, and she moved closer to Jupiter, seeking warmth. "Give it to me, Sailor Moon." Usagi's knuckles turned white as she gripped the wand and stared at him in mute shock.
Jupiter stepped forward, ushering Usagi behind her in a protective motion. "She's not giving you anything. What's going on, Tuxedo Kamen? Why are you acting like this?" Usagi peered around Jupiter's shoulder, compelled by an inexplicable need to keep Tuxedo Kamen in her line of sight.
"I am not who you think I am," he said, and with the flick of a hand his mask and top hat dissolved from view, revealing his eyes. Startled by the malevolence in his gaze, Usagi released a sharp gasp. Granted an unobstructed view of his face, her brain told her she was looking at Mamoru, but her heart said otherwise. "You've mistaken me for your ally," he continued, "but I am an agent of the Dark Kingdom, and I will retrieve the ginzuishou, Sailor Moon." When he took a menacing step forward Usagi flinched.
"Take another step and you'll regret it," Venus warned.
Tuxedo Kamen smirked at the threat but proceeded no further. "You think you can stop me?"
"We can, and we will," Jupiter vowed, moving forward to stand with Venus. Mars—who still looked bewildered—joined them despite her clear reluctance while Mercury took the rear, positioning herself in front of Usagi in Jupiter's stead. Torn between a desire to stand her ground and to flee, Usagi hovered behind them all, paralyzed by indecision.
Tuxedo Kamen's eyes narrowed at their united front before he brandished his cane with a look of determination. "So be it."
Before the impending melee could break out a black portal shimmered into view behind him. Usagi's eyes widened as Kunzite stepped out and placed a hand on Tuxedo Kamen's shoulder. "Endymion," he said, keeping one eye trained on the Senshi. "Queen Beryl commands that you retreat for now."
Endymion. Usagi started in recognition at Kunzite's use of the familiar name. Her eyes narrowed, shifting from the Dark General to his hand resting on Tuxedo Kamen's shoulder. She bristled when the latter made no move to shrug it off.
"I came here for the ginzuishou," Tuxedo Kamen replied, his jaw set in a stubborn line. "I will not leave without it."
"Your plan has failed," Kunzite told him, his blunt monotone a clear indication of his disdain. "You have lost the element of surprise, and you are outnumbered. Live to fight another day." Tuxedo Kamen's mouth twisted in a scowl, and in the tense pause that followed Usagi feared that he would ignore the General's words. Finally he eased his aggressive stance and offered Kunzite a curt nod. Satisfied, Kunzite turned and strode through the portal without another word.
When Tuxedo Kamen moved to follow, Usagi took a step toward him without thinking, stretching out a hand in silent appeal. He turned back, their eyes met, and she froze, arrested by the fearsome intensity of his gaze. "This is far from over," he uttered with dark promise before vanishing into the portal without a trace.
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