Earth Guardian Prince Endymion
By Senshi
of Ruin and Mizu no Senshi
Act Sixty Six Recap:
(Mamoru’s POV)
In order to save the lives of my friends I agreed to Kuroki Mio’s demands, but it would seem that even my giving up my freedom was not enough for her. She also seeks to eradicate all trace of my feelings for Usagi. This cannot be done so again I am resorting to hurting the ones I love in order to save them.
“I have not come back for you.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“I have come back to tell you that I don’t love you
anymore.”
As I have said before, Usagi had experienced so much pain
and suffering in her life and I hated myself for having to add to it, but if
she ended up like Hina… I can never allow that to happen, even if it means
breaking her heart.
“No! I won’t let you give up our dreams, Mamoru! Mamoru!”
But even this failed to satisfy her and Mio also sought to
make sure that my friends did not try to save me.
“They will come after me. Their duty as my guardians is
too strong, no matter what Usagi says to them.”
“Not if you order them to stay away.”
Mamoru’s heart slipped a beat at the hidden threat in her
voice, “You promised me” he snarled out, “You promised me that Usagi would be
safe.”
“Usagi yes. But the others… If they come here I will
destroy them. You know I have that power and even if I destroy myself in the
process, I promise you this, Mamoru-kun, I will take them with me and make
their end as slow and agonising as possible.”
Time and time again she uses them against me and I have to
obey her. I cannot let them die for me, not in this world. They have their
lives to lead and, even if mine is to be confined to the darkness, I will not
allow them to die… not again.
“I have not ‘escaped’. I have merely come to tell you to
leave Kuroki Mio alone. Do not try to find her, or me. Just go back to your
normal lives and she will not bother you anymore.”
“Nani? What the hell are you saying this for? What kind of
spell has she got you under?”
“I speak under my own free will, Nephrite. Forget this
war.”
“Your own free will? Since when do you refer to me as
Nephrite in my civilian form?”
“I am your Prince and I am issuing you with a direct order
and one to pass along to the others. You cannot disobey me.”
And so I have severed my ties with them. With all of them.
Now all that is left is darkness…
******
Act Sixty-Seven:
“I have not ‘escaped’. I have merely come to tell you to
leave Kuroki Mio alone. Do not try to find her, or me. Just go back to your
normal lives and she will not bother you anymore.”
Mamoru moaned softly in pain as he awoke, recalling his
words to Taro with a great amount of regret and bitterness. He had not wanted
to fall asleep in this cursed kingdom. He had not want to yield to the fatigue
that had plagued his body but he had felt so weak and now, even after a night’s
rest, this weakness still gave him cause to cry out as he returned to full
wakefulness and yet feeling so utterly drained.
He was shaking, Mamoru realised and sweat was beading on
his forehead as he grit his teeth to suppress another cry of pain. There was a
burning sensation in his head that caused the room to sway and the colour to
slowly drain from it.
“No! I won’t let you give up our dreams, Mamoru! Mamoru!”
“Usagi” he whispered, causing the young woman sleep at his
side to awake. Mamoru recoiled when he saw just how close she was to him, but
another wave of pain overtook him and he could only grip tightly at his
forehead, as though somehow trying to take hold of the pain.
Coughing, Mamoru felt a small shudder take over this body
when he became aware of the metallic taste of blood in his mouth. Raising a
hand to his lips, he was alarmed to find more blood when he took his hand away.
“Mamoru-kun?” Mio’s voice trembled slightly as he doubled
over in pain, the colour draining from his face as fierce spasm took hold of
his body, each more painful than the last.
“I will have to forfeit then, it would seem.”
“Forfeit?” Mamoru asked suspiciously.
“We will stay here. Together. Forever.”
“You can stay. I will not stay with you.”
“I cannot stay here,” Mamoru whispered softly, realising
the truth of the situation that he was in. The Dark Kingdom was now truly a
place of despair… a place where only true evil could survive. He could feel the
energy hurting him… killing him…
“It will kill me to stay” Mamoru pleaded, tears springing
into his eyes as more pain racked his shaking form.
Mio appeared torn, a wild look in her eyes before they
narrowed hatefully, “If I allow you to leave them you will go to her. You will
go to her or she will come to you, despite all you have done. My efforts will
be in vain after all.”
“Isn’t it better to be alone than to have a false love?”
A bitter laugh escaped her and Mio turned away, “You are a
fool, Mamoru-kun. You do not know what it is like to be alone.”
With those parting words, Mio turned, swiftly leaving the
room. Immediately Mamoru tried to stand. He had to leave… the pain… he couldn’t
barely think straight. A sense of coldness cut through right to his bones, and
he swallowed hard a few times to rid the taste of blood from his mouth. He had
to leave… he had too… He grunted in pain as his attempts to stand failed as
black and white stars flashed before his eyes and he was forced to slump back
against the pillows once more…
She wouldn’t be able to reach him and, after his words,
the Shitennou could not reach him.
“I am your Prince and I am issuing you with a direct order
and one to pass along to the others. You cannot disobey me.”
The Shitennou could not disobey a direct order, even if it
meant that Mamoru would die…
******
“You were right to come back as you were worried,” Dr
Miura said brightly as she consulted her notes, “But there was no need for your
concern. You are doing well, Komoro-san.”
Seiichi nodded, unsure of just how much relief to show at
this. After the events of last night, the first thing he had done when they got
back to Tokyo was stop into the hospital. Despite Jadeite healing him, he
wanted to be sure that everything was well and he couldn’t help but smile when
Dr Miura confirmed that it was so.
“You’ll still need to come back in a week or so for a
check up” she added sternly, “Please do not take this consultation as putting
you in the all clear.”
Seiichi nodded again, promising that, this time, he would
keep the appointment. Satisfied, she handed him his jacket and pulled the
cubicle screen back, and gestured that he could go now. Seiichi was glad of
this. He hated hospitals at the best of times.
Masaki was awaiting him anxiously in reception.
“How did it go?” he demanded as soon as he saw his friend.
“I’m fine”
The relief on Masaki’s face was almost comical and Seiichi
couldn’t refrain from laughing a little. Masaki scowled, “I can’t help but be
concerned, you know! How are the memories?” he then added in, a little quietly
as they left the hospital.
“A little vague in places” Seiichi admitted, “But I think
I can recall all the important things now.”
As ironic as it seemed, it would appear that the Youma had
actually done him a favour, he mused to himself. That second knock had been
enough to not only almost kill him, but also restore his memories. Seiichi
wasn’t quite sure how to describe how he was feeling. It was also as though he had
been stumbling around in the dark for so long and someone had just switched the
light on. Before, he had been able to walk around, continue living, but only
now could he recall and appreciate what might have been lost.
“I called the cemetery in Kamakura this morning” Masaki
said softly, “They’re going to sort the grave out today.”
Seiichi nodded; it still pained him terribly to think of
the destruction of the night before.
“How are you feeling?” he enquired, keen to change the
subject and also keen to broach the subject of his friend’s awakening.
“Fine” was the
response he gained, “I don’t honestly feel any different, aside from the fact
when I’m Jadeite I’m stronger and I have more memories of our previous life.
“It will feel a little strange when you transform again”
Seiichi said, “But you’ll get used to it.”
“You’ve had your awakening?”
“When I awakened my powers five years ago, they were
already at their full potential. I needed to awaken fully then in order to
recall our past lives and protect the Prince.”
Masaki grumbled slightly at this, but this was all in good
humour and Seiichi smiled, before saying:
“Do you want a lift? The studio are supposed to be sending
a car in a couple of minutes.”
Masaki shook his head, “I’m fine.”
“If you are sure?”
“I am. But you know--” Masaki was cut off when Seiichi
suddenly pulled him back around a corner and out of sight.
“Because I love you and you loved me. We only got around
to telling each other this right before your accident. What we had was fleeting
and I couldn’t tell you when it became apparent that you didn’t remember me.
How could I tell you? It wouldn’t have been fair to expect you to return my
feelings and now, as you are now, I know that you could never feel anything
more for me because… because all you remember is Venus and how much you hated
her.”
Masaki sighed and shook his head as Minako and Rei hurried
into the hospital without seeing them. It was common knowledge that Minako
often went and sung to the terminally ill children in the hopes of raising
their spirits despite their terrible situation. Rei often went with her as she
too had a good singing voice, although she was no Aino Minako.
“You really should talk to her.” Masaki advised.
Seiichi shook his head, mentally wincing when he thought
about how much he had hurt her. Minako was better off without him in her life.
“Baka. She likes you. What is holding you back?”
“We have to focus on the mission.”
“What about Taro and Ami-san?”
“They are different.”
“How?”
“They just are… my car’s here.”
Masaki sighed, “Seiichi--”
“I should go. Shina will be worrying.”
An excuse, Seiichi knew, but Shina would be worrying about
him, especially as she was unaware that he had been to Kamakura.
“At least talk to her” Masaki tried again but Seiichi just
smiled and said that he would see him later at Crown, before hurriedly getting
into the car that pulled up beside him.
I know that you could never feel anything more for me
because… because all you remember is Venus and how much you hated her
Don’t think of it, Seiichi ordered himself. He would only
cause Minako more hurt and he couldn’t bear that. Whatever they had, it was
better off if they both forgot about it.
******
“It will kill me to stay”
“If I allow you to leave them you will go to her. You will
go to her or she will come to you, despite all you have done. My efforts will
be in vain after all.”
“Isn’t it better to be alone than to have a false love?”
“You are a fool, Mamoru-kun. You do not know what it is
like to be alone.”
Mio watched silently as Mamoru turned in his sleep, his
handsome face contorting in pain as another spasm shook his body.
He was right; the Dark Kingdom was killing him. Mio could
feel its evil tainting him, surging through his body. Since Metallia’s defeat
and Mio’s return the Kingdom had been poisoned with her hatred. Only pure evil
could survive it. Mamoru would die.
Yet she could not let him go. How could she? Mamoru now
belonged to her. He had given his word that he would stay with her.
“It will kill me to stay”
Mio bit her lip, unsure as what remained of her heart
pulled her in different directions. She wanted him to stay, even if it meant
his death. The thought of Mamoru was all that had kept her going throughout the
four years and to have him snatched from her side once more… She didn’t think
that she could bear it. But he would die. He would be gone. Mio did not want
that.
Another sharp cry tore free from his lips and Mio reached
forward, placing a hand on his burning forehead as though to somehow try to
heal him. This she could not do. The only thing that would save him would be if
he left this cursed place.
“Usagi” he breathed her name out softly, but not so softly
that Mio did not hear him and her heart clenched as rage shook her body once
more. Even through his pain he thought of her… it was unforgivable…
I cannot allow that… not now that he finally belongs to
me… even if he dies… I will never allow him to return to Usagi-chan… never…
Her mind made up, Mio stood, opening a portal that would
take her to the Earth realm once more. Did Mamoru truly think that she would
allow Usagi to live knowing that he still thought of her… still loved her?
Despite her promise to him, Mio knew that she could not
keep it. Not when Usagi still poisoned his thoughts, and was still in his
heart…
Mio’s gaze lingered on Mamoru’s face for a few moments
more before she stepped through the portal allowing her hatred to blanket out
all over thoughts and feelings from her mind.
******
“Do you think that I should speak to her?” Ami enquired
softly as she set aside the dish that she had been in the process of washing.
Carefully, she placed it on the draining board before picking up the second and
repeating the process, her eyes looking downward to the soapy water.
“Isn’t Rei going to see her today?” Taro replied, looking
up from the paper that he was reading. He was still very much shaken from the
events of the night before. The memory of finding two of his friends
unconscious in the cemetery in Kamakura continued to replay over and over in
his mind. For a few moments, Taro had feared the worst, especially when he had
seen the blood. Thankfully all they had needed was to rest. Seiichi had woken
first and the two of them had managed to help get Masaki back to the hotel.
Seiichi had also then explained about his friend’s awakening and that his
memories were more or less restored. This gave Taro some fresh hope, especially
after Mamoru’s words.
“I have not ‘escaped’. I have merely come to tell you to
leave Kuroki Mio alone. Do not try to find her, or me. Just go back to your
normal lives and she will not bother you anymore.”
Taro had not mentioned this confrontation to anyone, not
even Ami. He was going to meet the others in Crown in a few minutes and Taro
knew that he would have to tell them then, but none of them could go against a
direct order, no matter what the cause.
“Rei is going to see her” Ami answered his earlier
question, drawing Taro from his thoughts, “But maybe we should all go? Perhaps
Usagi needs to see that, despite everything that has happened, we are all
united and together still?”
“I’d let Minako talk to her” Taro advised, “She might open
up more if there is only one of you present.”
Ami sighed and nodded, “You are right, but I just feel so
helpless. Mio has Mamoru and the upper hand and there is nothing that we can
do.”
“We’ll think of something” Taro said this to reassure her
but he earned a disapproving look. “I’m sorry,” he added, knowing just what Ami
was hurt about. The four of them were meeting without the Senshi. Despite the
fact that the girls could transform now, Taro knew that his friends still had
reservations about them fighting with them.
“It’s just a meeting” he said out loud, more his own
benefit than Ami’s. “If anything is decided then I’ll let you know.”
“We should be deciding with you” was the quiet reply.
Taro frowned, “I know,” he admitted unhappily, “But Kisho
won’t see it like that.”
“So its down to Kisho” Ami murmured softly, “Do you want
me to fight, Taro?”
No… I don’t want you to get hurt more so than you have
already… I don’t want to risk losing you again…
“Of course” he said, reluctant to admit his concerns, “You
are one of the Princess’s guardians.”
Ami set down the dishes and dried her hands before walking
slowly over to him, “You don’t have to worry. I feel fine now.”
She always knew what he was thinking; it had always been
that way… even at the beginning…
“Ami” Taro started but she silenced him by placing a soft
kiss to his lips before drawing away and stating:
“Let me come to the meeting with you.”
“The others won’t like it.”
“I know, but they cannot keep shutting us out like this.
It’ll just be me” Ami assured him, “Then I can report back to the others.
Surely they will not see anything wrong in that?”
******
Taro did not bother to hide his surprise when he entered
Crown and saw that, as well as his three friends, Minako and Makoto were also
present. They were sat around the table, Kisho at the head of it with Seiichi,
and Masaki to his left. To his right sat Makoto and then Minako. Thinking it
political to do so, Taro took a seat next to Minako and Ami sat the other side
of him, whilst giving Masaki a look that clearly demanded to know what was
going on.
“I asked them to come” Kisho stated softly, guessing
Taro’s confusion.
“Why?” he said before he could help himself and mentally
winced at the sharp look that Makoto gave him.
“It is not just Mamoru’s future which is at stake,” Kisho
answered, obviously still feeling a little uncomfortable, “It is Usagi’s as
well. They should be here.”
Taro smiled slightly, knowing how difficult it was for
Kisho to admit this and even to change his opinion where the Senshi were
concerned, but he couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to bring about
this change in his mindset. Kisho was not willing to divulge this and, instead,
started with:
“We all know why we are here. We need to find a way into
the Dark Kingdom and rescue Mamoru.”
“No” Taro found himself saying before he could stop
himself and again winced slightly when all of a sudden all eyes were on him.
“I am your Prince and I am issuing you with a direct order
and one to pass along to the others. You cannot disobey me.”
“Last night” Taro admitted softly, “At the hotel. I saw
Mamoru… as Endymion. He issued me with a direct order, an order that we are not
to try and find him. That we are to go back to our normal lives.”
As expected, no one was happy with this. The girls were as
shocked as his friends and Taro could only watch as they made their anger at
this known.
“Why?” Kisho was furious, so furious that he was shaking,
“That baka. Why would he do that?”
“Mio must have him under some kind of spell” Minako
suggested, “It is the only explanation.”
“He said that he spoke under his own freewill” Taro
answered, “But he could have been lying.”
“Of course he was lying” Masaki snapped, “He wouldn’t have
said that under any other circumstances.”
“Unless she is holding something over him” Makoto added to
this, “As she was before. It is the only other explanation.”
This upset the Tennou further. Taro knew that there was
the very real possibility that his own safety, along with that of his friends,
was the reason behind Mamoru’s actions.
Ami, seeing his discomfort, placed a hand on his hand and
smiled reassuringly.
“Even if it is a direct order, he did not make it freely”
Minako spoke again, her voice sounding hopeful, “You can go against it.”
“No” Seiichi answered, a little sharply and Minako
flinched at his tone, although she refused to break his gaze, “We cannot. Even
in this world an order is an order. We cannot go against it. We cannot go into
the Dark Kingdom.”
“Are you sure?” Taro demanded. Seiichi’s memories of the
past life were undisputable under any other circumstances, but a part of him
hoped that Seiichi’s memory wasn’t fully restored and he was mistake.
“I am sure” Seiichi replied, his voice
uncharacteristically as angry as Kisho’s, “We cannot go against Mamoru’s
orders, even if they weren’t issued freely.”
“So now what do we do?” Taro demanded, looking to Kisho.
Their leader, too, was at a loss, but Makoto them spoke up again:
“He ordered you. Not us.”
“No” Kisho said instantly, “No way.”
“So you’ll invite us to your meeting, but you will not
allow us to help” Makoto shot back furiously, “We can fight and we will. You
can’t stop us.”
“Mamoru is our Prince” Kisho snapped, “It is our
responsibility to free him.”
“And just how do you propose to do that?”
“We’re only bound to Mamoru’s orders when we are
transformed.”
“So what? You’ll go in as your civilian selves? She’ll
kill you.”
Kisho wasn’t really thinking, Taro knew. He could
understand his friend’s anger just as well. Mamoru was their Prince and
to have the Senshi rescue him… Taro was a little uncomfortable with this to say
the least. Especially as it meant putting Ami in danger, somewhere where Taro
could not protect her.
“We cannot go in as our civilian selves,” he said at last,
putting an end to the argument that had erupted around him, “No one can go in.
It is too risky.”
“Then what are we supposed to do?” Kisho asked, a little
taken aback by Taro taking charge of the situation.
“We wait. Mio will not hurt him, but she is bound to
overstep herself eventually.”
“I don’t like it” Masaki admitted, “I hate waiting for the
enemy to make the next move. Too many people have been hurt by doing such a
thing.”
“It is all we can do” Minako said, her tone saying that
she didn’t like it anymore than they did. “Just because Mio has what she wants
for the moment, doesn’t mean that she will go away. We can never forget that.”
******
For Kisho, even inviting the Senshi to the meeting was
difficult enough but, after last night he felt as though he had no choice.
Usagi’s tears had gotten through to him more than he cared to admit and Kisho
knew that she needed the Senshi, she needed her friends…
“He thought you were dead. Could that have changed his
heart?”
“No. Even when we thought that Masaki had been killed, his
faith in you remained. Kuroki Mio is behind this, I am sure.”
“Thank you Thank you for believing in us.”
No matter how much comfort his words gave her, Kisho knew
that she needed the girls and that they would have to try and cooperate with
them. But because they were trying, it didn’t mean that they were succeeding…
After Taro had calmed them down there seemed, yet again,
as though there was very little that they could do for the time being. Kisho
hated this kind of war. He hated feeling so helpless but what else could he do?
He couldn’t, as Kunzite, go against Mamoru’s orders.
It had always been this way… especially in the past life…
The only time that he had disobeyed Endymion…
They had retreated to the Moon, Kunzite thought bitterly,
but Beryl followed them. Torn apart with grief and sorrow that he was unable to
protect the weaker Tennou and make his Prince see what a terrible mistake he
had made, Kunzite had attacked Serenity. He could remember, in the midst of the
battle, taking his sword into his hand and raising it against the unprotected
back of the Princess of the Silver Millennium. Kunzite had heard Serenity’s
scream, but when he tore his sword from the body of the human that it had
impaled, it was not Serenity who fell to the ground. Though he had always vowed
that he would never do so, Kunzite had struck Endymion. He had killed his
Master.
He had killed him… he had killed Endymion and thus the
planet had been destroyed along with the Moon.
He could not disobey Mamoru again. Kisho feared for what
might happen if he did. Bound by the oaths that coerced their loyalty, Kisho
doubted if he was strong enough to break free from that and, in any case, he
had no want too. Things were different now. Mamoru was not only his Master but
also his best friend first and foremost.
Lost in his thoughts, Kisho was barely aware that Minako’s
phone was ringing. Startled the idol answered it, her eyes widening as she
listened to the voice on the other end.
Shakily, after a few moments, Minako hung up and stood,
stating softly that they had to go.
“What is it?” Kisho asked, but Minako was reluctant to
divulge this, especially after the heatedness of their discussion before.
In the end, Ami drew her to one side, whispering something
into her ear, Nodding, Minako turned back to the Tennou, “Usagi’s in trouble.”
“Mio?”
“Hai.”
Kisho stood up and the others followed suit.
“What can you do?” the leader of the Senshi declared a
little acidly, “You have been ordered to leave her be, remember?”
Kisho held her gaze, knowing this to be true, but saying
anyway, “That maybe so, but we will not sit idly by and allow you to risk
yourselves.”
Minako nodded, a glimmer of respect in her eyes before she
hid this with a renewed look of determination, “Minna, lets go.”
******
“Mamoru? You came back for me, right?” Usagi prompted him.
Mamoru looked up sharply at her and then spoke, “I don’t
want you getting the wrong idea, Usagi.”
“The wrong idea. I don’t understand?” Usagi took a step
forward; her hand clutching tightly at the pendant that she wore around her
neck, a pendant that Mamoru had given her.
“I have not come back for you.”
“What?” Usagi trembled as she felt her fear heighten,
“What do you mean?”
“I have come back to tell you that I don’t love you
anymore.”
Usagi choked back a sob as she recounted to Rei, Mamoru’s
words. Despite her knowing that he couldn’t truly mean this, they still hurt
her and even more so that there was nothing that she could do to help him.
All the while, Rei simply listened and nodded,
occasionally offering Usagi a reassuring smile. Usagi just didn’t know what she
was feeling at the moment. A part of her despaired and hated Mio for tearing
her life apart, but she also pitied her. Usagi was reluctant to give in to
either of these feelings. Hatred had destroyed the planet before, she reminded
herself. But how could she pity Mio after all she had done? She had hurt so
many people… yet that pity remained. Usagi couldn’t imagine what it must be
like to have no friends and no one to love. She also voiced this to Rei and the
Miko replied softly:
“You are a kind hearted person, Usagi. That is why you
pity her.”
Usagi nodded and chewed on her lower lip as they walked
through the park. There were a few people out walking their dogs, but aside
from this the part was relatively deserted. She recalled how she and Mamoru
used to come here on dates… Letting out a small sob, Usagi resolved to remain
positive. She had to believe in Mamoru, no matter what.
No matter what he might have said… Mio was making him give
up on them… Mamoru loved her, Usagi knew he did.
“The park is beautiful this time of year” she commented to
Rei as they turned a corner, moving away from the centre of the park.
Rei smiled, “It is” she agreed softly.
“Kawaii!” Usagi declared suddenly as a squirrel ran down
the trunk of a tree, its nose twitching as it sat up on its hind legs to
observe the two friends. Moving forwards slowly, Usagi held out her hand and
pouted when the squirrel gave her a suspicious glare and then ran back up the
tree, watching her from the safety of one of the higher branches.
Usagi gave it another frown but this expression turned
into one of horror as a black burst of energy flared from behind her, striking
the animal in the centre of its chest and killing it instantly.
Usagi cried out and turned around as the energy struck
her, she felt magical bounds encircling her arms and legs, pulling her back
against the tree tightly and rendering her motionless.
“Usagi!” Rei cried out, “Mars power---” she gasped as a
similar bolt struck her in the stomach, forcing her to the ground. Her henshin
bracelet was hurriedly claimed by the perpetrator who then let out a triumphant
laugh at their helplessness.
“Mio-chan” Usagi whimpered and renewed her struggling,
although it did her little good, and the other girl took a step towards her,
her eyes narrowing in hatred.
Rei cried out and ran between them but Mio simply laughed
and, taking the Miko completely by surprise, she held out a hand and Rei tensed,
expecting an attack to be directed her way, yet this was not the case. The
magic attacked from below her, tearing up from the ground to encircle her
ankles. Rei cried out and struggled to wrench herself away, whilst grabbing an
ofuda scroll from the folds of her robes. Mio simply smirked and, with a soft
command, more binds whipped upwards, wrapping themselves tightly around her
wrists and pulling them behind her back. Rei cried out as they dug into her
skin, forcing her to drop the scrolls that might have saved them. Then she
befell a similar fate to her friend and was pinned up against a nearby tree.
Rei gagged as a further bind wrapped itself around her throat.
“Rei-chan!” Usagi screamed when she saw her suffering.
Mio laughed, “Don’t worry, Usagi-chan. It is not her that
I am interested in.”
Usagi felt herself trembling as Mio came closer, stopping
right in front of her and reaching out to touch her face. The pigtailed girl
forced herself to stand still, although she wanted to jerk away from the enemy’s
touch.
“You’re such a plain girl,” she stated softly, “Both in
this life and the last. You wear little makeup, and your figure lacks the
maturity of a real woman’s. You are clumsy, a cry baby, still very much a child
at heart and yet you can make him smile. You can make him laugh. You can make
him look at you with a gaze that I have only dreamed of. Why is that? Tell me,
Usagi-chan? Why can you make him smile when you can offer him nothing?”
That pity was there again, especially when Usagi saw tears
in her eyes. Yet there was danger in her emotions and Usagi was afraid to speak
as if, by doing so, she would invoke anger upon both herself and Rei.
“Why, Usagi-chan? Why do you make him smile? Answer me!”
this last part ended in a tortured scream and Usagi couldn’t prevent a cry from
escaping her mouth when Mio grabbed hold of her chin and slammed her head back
into the tree. Stars danced before her vision and, when she could see again,
Usagi saw that Mio was trembling, her misery replaced by fury.
“I…” Usagi whispered, her gaze focusing at a point over
Mio’s shoulder so that she wouldn’t have to look such anger in the eyes, “I…
don’t know.”
“You lie! Why is it that you have captured his heart so?
Even when he is dying all he can think of is you!”
“What have you done to him?” Usagi said, her voice gaining
an even deeper tone of fear. Mio was more than simply furious. Her rage had
driven her to almost insanity and Usagi feared for Mamoru’s life.
Laughing, she grabbed a fistful of Usagi’s hair and pulled
her head back as far as it would go with the tree behind her, but not before
Usagi was able to cast a wild glance in Rei’s direction. With Mio’s rage she
had become careless. The binds that held Rei were weakening and the Miko had
managed to get her arms free and was desperately fumbling for her phone.
Usagi knew that she had to keep Mio occupied; a task that
would not be too difficult as the young woman only had focus for her alone.
“What have you done to him?” Usagi cried again, the slight
break in her voice only serving to infuriate Mio more.
“You are such a child, Usagi-chan. I can hear such fear in
your voice. When he died before you were selfish. You destroyed both worlds
because you were unable to live without him. I am stronger than that! I can
watch him die! I can stand it! You were weak!”
Usagi screamed as her head struck the tree once more and
the binds that held her tightened until they were digging into her wrists and
ankles and blood was drawn. Usagi could feel it and she allowed a tear to slip
free and run down her cheek.
“Mamoru… what have you done to him!” she screamed again.
Mio’s gaze hardened, “I haven’t done anything to him. His
body cannot bear the corruption of the Dark Kingdom. He grows weaker by the
moment.”
“Then let him go!”
“No. He’ll go to you. He’ll leave me!”
“So you’ll let him die?”
“Mamoru belongs to me. He promised me that!”
“But he’ll die. Mio-chan, please--”
“You are pleading with me? You want me to save him?”
Usagi nodded, barely noticing that Rei had managed to
fully free herself, “Please…”
“Unforgivable!” Mio screamed, tears running down her own
cheeks as she cried out this one word, “How dare you beg me! He will die in the
Dark Kingdom. He will die at my side. I will hold him to his promise.”
With this she whirled back round, catching Rei in her
sights. The Miko paused, without her henshin she was helpless, as Mio drew back
an arm and prepared to strike her.
“Rei-chan!”
“Venus love-me… chain!”
“Supreme thunder!”
Mio shrieked as the attacked slammed into her, taking her
completely unawares she fell back a step or two, Rei’s henshin bracelet falling
from her fingertips and onto the grass. Mercury ran forward and hurriedly
claimed this before giving it back to its rightful owner.
“Mars power… make up!”
Rei wasted no time in calling out her transformation, but
any joy that Usagi felt at seeing her four friends as Senshi once more was
short lived.
“Unforgivable” Mio seethed as she took a step away from
them, preparing to run, but the Shitennou stood the other side of her, blocking
her retreat.
“Where is Mamoru?” Kunzite demanded, drawing his sword,
but Usagi was alarmed to see that Mio did not look at all concerned about being
surrounded and now edged back towards her, still with a smirk upon her face.
“Answer the question” Kunzite snapped.
“Why?” Mio grinned, playing with a strand of black hair;
“You cannot do anything to me. Mamoru-kun forbid it, did he not?”
“We’ll just see about that,” Nephrite snarled, raising a
hand to call up an attack, but before he could do so fully he gasped slightly
and doubled over in pain.
Mio laughed, “You cannot disobey an order, you fool.”
“Maybe he can’t” Venus called, causing Mio to whirl
back around, knowing that the Shitennou could do nothing against her. As she
did so, Venus again fired her love-me chain attack at her foe.
Usagi couldn’t help but gasp when Mio didn’t even flinch,
simply shielding herself from the attack and then firing the power directly
back at the Senshi. It struck both Venus and Jupiter and they fell to their
knees at the force of the blow. Instantly Mars and Mercury leapt in front of
them, but Mio merely laughed again and moved back further towards the tree
until she was but a hand’s reach from Usagi.
Then, still smiling, she unsheathed the knife that had
been tucked unnoticed into the belt of her jeans and came right beside her and
pressed the tip to Usagi’s throat.
Usagi whimpered and held herself perfectly still as she
felt the blade cutting into her skin.
“I had rather hoped that you would be here to witness the
death of your Princess” Mio said sharply to the Senshi.
Usagi shook at her words. It was no use. The Shitennou
couldn’t attack Mio and none of the Senshi’s attacks were accurate enough to
strike her down without getting Usagi caught in it too.
Meeting Mercury’s gaze, Usagi knew that they realised this
too.
“Let her go” Venus ordered, trying to appear unafraid, but
Usagi could see that even the leader was trembling.
“No” Mio snapped back hatefully, “All I ever wanted was
for Mamoru to love me but, even now, he only thinks of her. He cannot see me,
not with her still clouding his thoughts. Perhaps once she is dead he will
truly understand that I am the only one who will ever love him.”
“No” Usagi whispered, her voice cracking as she felt the
pressure on the blade increase slightly, “All this… it will only make him hate
you more.”
“Silence!” Mio cried out, but her hand that held the knife
was trembling, “He will love me. You are all that stands in the way of that.”
“You cannot change someone’s heart. Mio-chan, please. This
isn’t the way to gain Mamoru’s feeling for you. By killing me and imprisoning
him in the Dark Kingdom until he dies is not the way, can’t you see that?”
Even with the knife at her throat, Usagi’s strong sense of
pity was overwhelming her. When looking at Mio she didn’t see an enemy. She saw
a teenage girl who had suffered just as much as Usagi and her Senshi had done.
All Mio wanted was for someone to care about.
“Shut up! This is the only way!” Mio tried to push the
blade, but she couldn’t… tears were in her eyes and Usagi struggled to find the
strength to continue, ignoring the fact that others were also present and
focused on Mio alone.
“This is not the only way. Mamoru is a kind-hearted
person. He will forgive you.”
“I don’t want his forgiveness! I want him to love me!”
“It is a terrible thing… to be alone, but being with
someone simply by forcing them to stay is even worse. You say you love him, and
if you truly know what love feels like then you want him to be happy, right?”
“You are only saying that because he will go to you.”
“No. Even when our love was fated I wanted Mamoru to be
happy even if it meant that we were apart. As long as we allowed past demons to
interfere then we could never be happy. It is the same for you, Mio-chan. Until
you let go of the past life then it will always repeat and will keep making you
miserable.”
“It is easy for you to say. You have Mamoru and you have
friends. I have nothing. I have always had nothing.”
“Everyone will forgive you” Usagi reached up with a hand
to touch Mio’s trembling shoulder as a tear slipped free and fell down her left
cheek, “They will be your friends, too, if you want them to be.”
Mio stumbled backwards, the knife falling from her hand
and she raised both of them to her face, obscuring her face from view. Usagi
felt the binds that held her be released and she leaned back against the tree,
exhaling sharply, even as her friends ran to her side.
“Usagi? Daijobu?” Jupiter demanded, placing her hands on
her friend’s shoulders.
“I’m fine” Usagi murmured, her gaze still focusing on Mio.
Then, slowly, Mio lowered her hands, but not before
carefully wiping the tears from her eyes as again they narrowed.
“Mio-chan, I meant what I said” Usagi stepped away from
the Senshi and held out a hand, “I forgive you.”
“I… I don’t want your forgiveness!”
“Mio-chan!” Usagi tried to run forwards, but Jupiter
grabbed her and held her back as Mio opened a portal and fled the park.
Usagi stumbled against her friend, feeling her pent up
tears finally slipping free.
No… Mamoru…
******
“I’ll take her home” Makoto whispered quietly to Minako.
Usagi was still slumped against the tree that she had been pinned under not ten
minutes before. Ami and Rei were trying to comfort her whilst the Shitennou
stood, de-transformed, a little way away, unsure of what to do. Luna and
Artemis were also present, but nearer their Princess and Luna, too, was
attempting to give her some comfort.
“I forgive you.”
The jubilation that Minako knew that she should have been
feeling at transforming into Venus for the first time since their henshins were
restored was overshadowed by day’s events. Usagi’s words had almost moved her.
How she could find it in her heart to forgive Mio when Mamoru was dying alone
in the Dark Kingdom, Minako did not know. She didn’t think for one second that
they were merely words to get Mio to release Mamoru. Usagi had meant it. She
had a kind heart and would never say such words if they were not true.
Chewing nervously on her lower lip, Minako suddenly wished
that she possessed such strength.
“Minako?” Makoto prompted her.
“Yes” she nodded in agreement to Makoto’s first statement,
“Please take her home.”
Ami and Taro also opted to leave with them in case Mio
decided upon a counter attack, but Minako knew that there was nothing that the
Shitennou could do about this anyway and all because of Mamoru’s forced words.
Frustrated and angry at the day’s events, Minako, too,
announced that she was going home. Artemis instantly ran to her side and purred
in delight when she picked him up and scratched him behind his ears. Artemis
was always there to comfort her… and Minako didn’t know what she would do
without him.
Rei called out to her that she would see her tomorrow and
also made her leave and, when Minako cast a glance over her shoulder, she saw
that the other Tennou were also leaving. Her gaze lingered on Seiichi for a
moment or two and her heart filled with bitter disappointment when he failed to
even glance her way.
“Minako” Artemis whispered, nuzzling her, but she
pretended not to be bothered by Seiichi’s coldness and called out a goodbye to
Makoto, Usagi and Ami before leaving the park quickly through the northern
gate.
“We were so helpless today, Artemis” Minako confided as
they walked down the street, which was almost deserted, “She could have killed
Usagi.”
“But she didn’t.”
“She could have! If such a situation happens again… I just
don’t know how to handle it, Artemis.”
“We will not allow the Princess to get into that kind of
situation again.”
“What kind of answer is that?”
Artemis flinched slightly at her words, “The only one I
know to give.”
Minako sighed, worrying her lower lip as she reached her
apartment block, which was only a short distance from the park.
The apartment that she lived in was on the ground floor
and, after going inside, she set Artemis down and went into the kitchen to make
some green tea.
“No. Even when our love was fated, I wanted Mamoru to be
happy, even if it meant that we were apart. As long as we allowed past demons
to interfere then we could never be happy. It is the same for you, Mio-chan.
Until you let go of the past life then it will always repeat and will keep
making you miserable.”
Minako sighed. Perhaps the Shitennou had been right. They
had regained their henshins and they still couldn’t protect their Princess and
they hadn’t been able to save Mamoru-san either.
She jumped a little when she heard a knock at the door.
Instantly, Minako felt herself tense as it couldn’t be her friends.
Setting down the kettle, she went to answer it and her
heart began to thump wildly in her chest when she opened the door.