Luna almost smiled to herself as she watched Setsuna finish
programming the communicators. With a lot of hard work, a bit of luck,
and a ton of guess and check, the group had finally managed to figure
out how to get the communicators to track wands. Just as she and her
group had discovered that, the other team had run in announcing that
they too had figured out how to use the communicators to track specific
senshi signals. After that it hadn't even taken them that long to finish
setting up. * Ami would be proud* She thought as she looked about the
room. Books on ultrasonic waves and locators were strewn about and
everyone was exhausted having studied most of the night and gotten up
early that morning to start again.
"There!" Setsuna announced and everyone huddled in as she turned
the small device over in her hand.
"Is that all?" Mamoru asked and Setsuna nodded, still staring at
the communicator.
"Well, here we go." She said and there was a collective held
breath as she pressed the little buttons. She watched hard as the screen
lit up and little lines flitted about the screen. It didn't take but a
few moments for pings to start sounding and Setsuna stared at it a
minute longer before leaning back. "It's working." She announced and
cheers resounded. Usagi glomped Mamoru and he hugged her back. Minako
and Makoto breathed out happily and both settled back and Michiru and
Haruka smiled at each other. Between them Hotaru bounced.
"How long will it take?" She asked and Setsuna watched the little
machine.
"From what I can tell, it shouldn't take too long. It just has to
reach their wands and then we should know exactly where they are. Not
more than an hour I would say." Everyone settled back into their
respective chairs until Haruka got a silly grin on her face and regarded
Makoto and Minako with a sly smile.
"So, " She said curiously, drawing looks from around the room,
"has the problem of giving Rei-chan and Ami-chan a reason to come back
been taken care of?" Michiru thwacked her lover's side but everyone had
already turned to watch Makoto and Minako as that was where Haruka had
directed her question. If she had thought things had gone bad, she
wouldn't of put them on the spot like that. But they had both been
smiling so much yesterday that she just knew things were okay. Usagi
nearly dropped her jaw in shock seeing the blushes on Minako and
Makoto's faces. Granted Kira hadn't really left much doubt but to have
it confirmed like this...
"You mean you guys are the ones that Ami-chan and Rei-chan love?"
She asked and Minako and Makoto both flushed darker. She watched them a
bit longer but could clearly sense the happiness coming off her senshi.
So, she indulged in harmless teasing too. ?Soooo, " She drawled out,
"are you two in looooove with them?" She grinned watching them both duck
their eyes. They looked over at each other but looked back up at their
princess and both shyly nodded. Usagi squealed and Haurka laughed aloud,
reaching over to lightly clap Makoto on the shoulder.
"That's great!" She exclaimed to the brunette."Now Michiru and I
have people to double and triple date with." Michiru smacked her lightly
again, but couldn't help the small smile she got on her face too. And
though both Minako and Makoto were both flushing deeply they were
smiling too. Setsuna looked over at Usagi to see what her reaction was
and was surprised to see Usagi frowning.
"Usagi-chan?" She asked and everyone looked up at her. Mamoru help
her hand tightly and she blinked, shaking her head.
"My, my head hurts a little." She said, still spacing. Setsuna
felt a shiver go through her and turned to see her daughter staring into
space as well.
"Hotaru-chan? Sweetie what is it?" Michiru asked, kneeling beside
her. Hotaru looked back down at Michiru slowly, then to the rest of the
group.
"Someone is coming." She said quietly and everyone moved to pull
out their wands but something pricked Setsuna's mind and she stood.
"No, don't. Go into the back room, now. All of you." She said
urgently and everyone stood, unsure.
"But, Setsuna-chan..." Usagi started and Setsuna looked at her
seriously.
"Now Usagi-chan. Especially you. And don't come out, understand?"
She exchanged looks with Mamoru who looked to Michiru and Haruka. They
both nodded and everyone left the room quickly, Usagi giving Setsuna
backwards glance before the door shut. Setsuna wasn't sure what it was
but she knew this feeling. * It's not Kira, but why does it feel so
familiar?* She didn't bother transforming, only hid the communicator in
her pocket as the presence grew closer. She watched the back door
closely as it swung open and a figure strode confidently inside. As soon
as she saw who it was she inhaled sharply, glad that she had sent the
others from the room. The figure saw her as soon as he entered and his
cold laugh chilled Setsuna.
"Well, well well. If it isn't the lost girl herself." Akio said
and Setsuna reflexively took a step back. She'd only met him once or
twice but it was enough to know that he was bad news. "You know, " he
said cooly, seating himself on the chair across from her and folding his
hands on crossed knees, "I didn't quite believe it when I heard you were
a senshi. I thought maybe it was wishful thinking on Kira-chan's part.
That she was seeing things or something. But she was so furious when she
found out I was listening, so protective of her little friends, I just
had to see for myself." Setsuna didn't sit down but in her head relaxed.
* Kira didn't tell him about me or the others. She could have for
revenge, but she didn't.*
"How did you find me?" She asked curiously and he tilted his
head.
"I paid a visit to our mutual friend recently. I knew she had been
back here not too long ago so I thought it was a good of a place as any
to start looking. Then I picked up these little pings and followed
them. And low and behold, look who I found." He stood at that and
Setsuna winced, stepping back. He glowered at her and gave a feral grin.
"Oh I'm going to have fun with you." He hissed, stepping closer. "Not
only are you a senshi, someone whom I would take great pleasure in
harming anyway, but you're Kira-chan's senshi. Even if she didn't know
that till recently." He stepped closer and Setsuna swallowed hard.
"What does that have to do with anything?" She asked, doing her
best to keep a level voice. He only smirked, tilting his head.
"You really don't know do you? What you did to her? How she is now
because of you?" He growled and Setsuna frowned lightly. "I knew even
before she met you that she wasn't having much fun enjoying the
pleasure's of life. And, at least when she was with you, she'd still
talk to me and the others. She was happy. But when you left, do you know
what that did to her? Do you even care?" He snarled, his voice rising.
"You devastated her. Nothing mattered to her anymore. Not even when the
godforsaken Queen fell and we were all freed did she care. She wouldn't
play anymore, not with me. Not with anybody. She broke contact with her
own kind, with the only kin she'd known. She barely ate enough to
survive, cursing herself and her heritage. Blaming it and us for driving
you away!" He was almost yelling now and Setsuna kept stepping backwards
as he advanced, terrified by him, but entranced by his story.
"Once she thought you had died, that you were gone, I thought it
would get better. I thought she would just get over you. But it only
became worse! She started hating the rest of us for who we were. She
started fighting with us when we tried to drink around her. She even
killed other demons to keep them from harming humans! She was killing us
in your memory! "He shouted, flashbacking at the thought.
******
Akio smirked as he cornered the girl, feeling the fear radiate off
of her. Her top was ripped somewhat and
she was trying to hold it up even as she backed
away. Tears ran down her face as he walked closer.
"Now what was that you said to my friend?" He asked curiously as
his eyes started to glow red. "That he
couldn't get you even if he forced you?" Her
eyes flicked as another younger vampire approached beside him,
headstrong, already learning to feed off fear and Akio loved helping
him. He passed Akio on his way to the girl and
Akio smirked. "Well, lets see if that's true."
He said with a laugh as Yuri made to leap at the girl. There
was a blur to the side and suddenly a figure stood between them and the
girl. Akio furrowed his brow at the sight. "Kira-chan, what are you
doing?"
Kira growled at him.
"I should ask you that. She's just a child Akio-san, what the hell
are you teaching that boy?" Akio laughed at her.
"I'm teaching him that humans are food Kira-chan. Nothing more
than fodder for us to feed on. As it
should be. " Yuri growled beside him.
"You make me sick." Kira snarled, tensing. "Leave her be." Akio
rolled his eyes. If Kira wanted to be all protective let her be. There
were plenty of others to pick from and he didn't feel like alienating
Kira completely.
"Very well. " He conceded but Yuri snarled.
"Like Hell I'm going to leave! That's my meal!" He charged at Kira
and Akio only closed his eyes, fully expecting Kira to send the boy
stumbling back as he was no match for her. He heard Yuri yell, and the
girl scream, and was shocked to hear a gurgling sound. Opening his eyes
he watched Yuri stumble back, a stake through his heart. He watched in
shock as Yuri fell to his knees and crumbled to ash. In near horror he
looked up at Kira.
"What are doing? He was one of us!" He snarled but Kira only knelt
beside the girl as she looked at Kira in fright.
"We are better off without his kind." She growled before meeting
the girls eyes. "Sleep now." She whispered and
entranced the girl fell into her arms. She
stood with the girl held close.
"Where are you going?" He demanded watching her walk right through
what remained of Yuri, the dust fluttering about.
"I'm taking her home." She hissed as she passed him. He watched and
could hear her whispering. "There there little one. Sleep sound now.
Those demons won't hurt you anymore." Not sure if he was in more shock
that she had killed his prot‚g‚ without apology, or that she had said
specifically 'those demons' and 'his kind' as if she weren't one, he
only watched her disappear down the road.
******
The memory resurged his anger and he leapt forward, forcing
Setsuna to bump up against the door, looking at him in shock. "Even now
a thousand years later she's not the same. She only feeds to survive,
she only goes out to eat. Do you know that when she sleeps she still
cries out your name? You cursed her for life you little bitch!" Akio
snarled now, glowing red and sprouting his fangs. "You ruined her,
ruined the great vampire that she was. And now I'm going to ruin you.
I'll end the reign of the senshi and throw you from her mind for the
last time. I won't let the memory of you haunt her anymore!" Setsuna had
tears in her eyes, not just from fear as he stalked closer, but from his
words. What she had done to Kira, that Kira still cared about her. She
closed her eyes as he approached until a warmth radiated from behind
her. She opened her eyes quickly and watched him back away from her as
quickly as he could. He knew he wasn't any match for the power of the
Queen which was what it felt like.
"I know where you are now little fool. And once I've taken care of
your friends I'll be back for you and the rest of the senshi. The time
of the Millennium Kingdom is over! We rule now." With a final snarl he
swirled his cape around him and disappeared from view as Setsuna found
herself slumping into a chair. Weak from the fear she had to sit down.
She knew that if it had not been for Usagi, he would've taken her life.
But if was not the fear of death that caused the tears. She had tried so
hard, so hard to be strong but hearing him talk... Knowing that Kira
still loved her, that even now she still cared, despite what Setsuna had
done... Unable to help it she started to cry, not caring about anything
else.
"Kira-chan, Kira-chan." She sobbed, tears tearing themselves from
her eyes with the same pain that Kira?s memory tore at her heart. "I'm
so sorry Kira-chan, I'm so sorry." She stayed like that, bent over
crying until loud knocks forced her to look up.
"Setsuna-san? Um, I can't feel it anymore. Can we come back?"
Usagi's voice sounded through the door and she almost smiled. She knew
that they had to have heard her crying and everything that Akio had said
if they were right outside the door, but Usagi was still trying to give
her privacy. Hurriedly she wiped the tears from her eyes and composed
herself, making it seem as though nothing had happened, greatful that
she knew they would all play along, and called out.
"Yes, it's okay. You may come now." The door slowly opened and
Usagi peeked in. Once she saw that Setsuna looked okay she and the
others trooped through the door. Inside the room Usagi sat across from
Setsuna and Haruka and Makoto went to the open door, looking outside for
any intruders.
"He's gone by now. He knows he wouldn't stand a chance against the
power of the crystal." Not completely convinced, Haruka and Makoto
returned.
"If Usagi-chan can beat him by herself, we should go after him. We
should be able to obliterate him as a group." Setsuna shook her head at
Haruka's words.
"It's true that Akio-san wouldn't be a match for the full power of
the crystal, but I doubt Usagi-chan can control it to it's fullest
extent. Besides, there are many powerful demons and vampires that I'm
sure he's already contacting. Our best bet is to find Ami-chan and
Rei-chan. He may be going after them now. And if he could follow the
pings here, it might not take Kira-san that long to sense them either so
we need to move fast." Haruka nodded and Setsuna pulled out the device,
studying it for a moment. Luna looked over her shoulder and nodded
grimly.
"It's located them. Let's go." Everyone transformed and headed
out. Uranus watched Pluto as she began following Jupiter and Venus out
the door. Not one to tiptoe about as the others were, and unable to
force her roommates cries from her thoughts so quickly she put a hand on
her shoulder, even as Neptune tried to stop her.
"Hey Pluto." She said and said senshi turned and regarded her
cooly. "Even though Mercury and Jupiter and Mars and Venus are all set
now, it seems as though you and yours need to get it together too."
Uranus was considerably shocked when Pluto's face turned harder than
she'd ever seen before.
"You know not of what you speak Uranus." Pluto nearly hissed.
"What is done is done, and what is in the past shall stay there." Uranus
huffed and ignored Neptune's tug on her arm.
"If it had stayed there this wouldn't be an issue. But obviously
it is." She said annoyed and Pluto all but slammed her staff into the
ground.
"You are correct about that Uranus. What was an issue in the past
is still an issue." She hissed and Uranus widened her eyes slightly.
"Nothing has changed since then. Nothing. So let it be." She said, her
voice softer. Uranus looked to see Pluto squeeze her eyes shut for a
moment before opening them and almost pleading with Uranus. "Just, let
it be." She turned and walked out the door. Uranus closed her eyes and
sighed quietly as Neptune held her arms tightly. She motioned with her
head and together they followed Pluto out the door. Sailor Moon watched
as her senshi walked out, eyes downcast and sighed to herself. She
followed them slowly doing her best to bring up memories of a past life,
and issues not brought to light.
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