Absence � By Kirika
******
Chapter 18 � Obsession
******
Aiaia walked into her Lady�s suite and stopped abruptly when she saw who was there with the majestic beauty. It was that human female� Aiaia had never hated a human as much as she hated that girl. The brunette watched with disgust as the blonde snuggled up to her mistress on her throne of cushions, the pink-haired woman stroking her long delicate fingers through Sailor Venus� hair affectionately. Aiaia could hardly stand it. It wasn�t fair. Why did her Lady have to like humans so much and not give a second glance to youma? And even if Lady Laodameia didn�t like youma, wasn�t Aiaia�s human appearance attractive? The youma was absolutely green with envy. She had decided that the next time she caught Sailor Venus alone; she was going to throw her out the window to a ten-storey death. Aiaia could make up some excuse, like her mistresses� mental domination broke for a second and rather than face a life of servitude, Venus had chosen to kill herself instead. Thinking about Venus� broken body made the youma smile grimly. Aiaia came out of her fantasy as Lady Laodameia turned her lovely eyes to the youma in silent question.
�Tuxedo Kamen has been re-captured,� the brunette said somewhat breathlessly, getting flustered looking at her mistresses� exposed flesh.
Her mistress smirked, continuing to stroke Sailor Venus� hair as the girl cooed. �Such a pity. He didn�t know the limit of my power� the man thought when out of my sight he was out of my mind. I could read his thoughts even if I was on another plane of existence!�
�Yes, my Lady� there were many casualties however and some structural damage to this floor,� the youma assistant said.
Lady Laodameia waved her free hand in a dismissing gesture. �The other people in this building still believe there is no tenth floor. Besides, more youma fodder where they came from,� she said absently, her comment cutting Aiaia to the bone.
The brunette lowered her head, looking at the carpet. Her mistress could be so cruel sometimes. �Y-yes, my Lady� what shall I do with Tuxedo Kamen?� she asked in a subdued tone.
�He is of no use to me� a broken toy. Kill him� perhaps you could hang his body from Tokyo Bay�s bridge�?� Lady Laodameia replied, tickling her blonde pet under the chin.
Aiaia nodded. �Yes, my Lady,� she grinned eagerly, her mood vastly improving.
The youma assistant�s mistress suddenly ceased fondling her prize and sat up straight, staring off into space. A seductive smile slowly spread across her pale face.
�So� they found me� and with their minds all open�� Lady Laodameia murmured, ignoring Aiaia�s presence.
The pink-clad woman�s smile widened. �Ahh� such determination, such dedication� strange how such strong feelings of love can be mixed with such undiluted hatred� I just need to stoke the glowing embers of hate, of purpose��
Lady Laodameia suddenly looked at Aiaia, directly in her eyes. �Tell the youma that we will be having guests� I want them led here,� she ordered.
Aiaia simply nodded, unable to pull her gaze away from her mistresses� gorgeous eyes. She then blinked, realisation dawning on her of what her Lady was asking.
�But my Lady, you could be put in danger, wouldn�t it be better if-�
Lady Laodameia interrupted her. �No. I want them led here. I want to keep some�� she said, looking down at Sailor Venus. The girl gazed back up at her, unfettered adoration gleaming in her blue eyes.
�It�s a shame I never got to break you in,� Lady Laodameia whispered to Venus, �but it will be more fun this way� a loss will help to snap your friends� minds.�
The pink-haired woman leaned down and kissed Venus full on the lips, a kiss which the girl readily returned with equal passion. Aiaia blushed furiously as she watched the kiss go on for several minutes, while grinding her teeth in jealously. The kiss ended, to the youma�s relief, her mistress extracting her tongue from Sailor Venus� ravished mouth.
�You will wait for the other Sailor Senshi in the receiving room outside my door,� Lady Laodameia said to the girl, �you will kill any senshi that tries to reach me until they are all dead or you are. Do you understand; they want to do me harm and we can�t have that, can we?�
Sailor Venus nodded with her lips slightly parted, straining her neck upwards, wanting another kiss from her mistress.
�Go now,� the vixen chuckled, smiling at the cute pout that her pet gave her.
Sailor Venus faithfully followed Lady Laodameia�s order, and let the definition of physical beauty out of her embrace, sliding off the large cushion pile and onto the carpet. Venus walked out of her mistresses� suite, swaying her hips suggestively as she walked. She didn�t notice the death glare Aiaia gave her.
At least I�ll be rid of the competition soon thought Aiaia. Until the other surviving Sailor Senshi are turned into slaves, of course
******
The three Sailor Senshi waited in the stairwell, having just transformed and were ready to charge up to the tenth, and highest, floor of the Rihga Royal Hotel. Artemis had pointed out the broken window where Tuxedo Kamen�s rose had flown out, and it was on the top floor of the building. All the senshi and the two cats had agreed that the tenth floor of the luxury hotel had to be the youma�s base, and where Minako and Mamoru were being held.
The plan was that two Sailor Senshi would take the elevator up the top floor and cause havoc amongst the youma, distracting them while the remaining three would come from the stair entrance, and search for the two friends. Meanwhile, Luna and Artemis would wait outside the hotel in relative safety. Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Uranus had volunteered for the more dangerous task of distracting the youma. Sailor Mars would have taken the job, but she didn�t want to leave her princess.
Sailor Mars, Sailor Mercury and Sailor Moon stood anxiously in the stairwell, waiting to hear Jupiter and Uranus engage the youma. Mars spared a glance at Mercury. She looked worried, no doubt thinking about Sailor Jupiter. It must be hard having your loyalty split between your love and your duty. At least Sailor Mars� duty and love were rolled into one divine package that was Sailor Moon. Mars let out a barely noticeable sigh as she gazed at her princess. The blonde had been giving her strange looks all night, almost if� the fire senshi shook her head. It couldn�t be that.
�I hear something,� whispered Mercury, capturing Mars� attention.
Sailor Mars strained her ears, and then heard twin wordless battle cries followed by inhuman shrieks. Jupiter and Uranus had arrived.
�Wait for a moment or two,� Mars said casually, leaning against a wall, �let them draw most of the youma to them.�
Sailor Mercury swallowed nervously, but nodded. Sailor Moon just gave Mars that weird look again. After several minutes, with Mercury fidgeting slightly all the while, it was time to go.
Sailor Mars took the point, easing open the door to the top floor a crack, and taking a look around, the sounds of fighting echoing down the hallways. Youma corpses littered the floor, their blood staining the walls and lush carpets. But some of the corpses were old; Mars noticed that some of the bloodstains had dried up. She looked around further, noting the multitude of roses stuck in the walls, in the ceiling, and of course, in the fallen youma.
So. The great �prince� escaped by himself after all
Seeing no live youma around, Sailor Mars opened the door fully and stepped quietly out into the hall, signalling Sailor Moon and Sailor Mercury to follow with one hand. Mars� princess gasped when she saw all the roses decorating the hallways.
�H-he, he must have tried to fight his way out,� she whispered, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, �oh, Mamoru is so brave��
Sailor Mars bit down on the wisecrack that was trying to escape her mouth. Rescuing the prince was going to be harder than she thought at this rate.
�Come on,� Sailor Mercury whispered, �we can use the angle of the roses to determine where he was coming from. That is, if he�s still here, or in the same holding area.�
The three senshi moved silently down the hall, Mercury leading the way this time. When they got to the end of the hallway, Sailor Mars pressed herself against the wall and peeked her head out, looking down the intersecting hall.
�All clear. Minako and M-mamoru should be behind one of these doors, I think,� stuttered Mars. She had trouble getting -his- name out.
Mercury nodded. �You�re right. Lets hurry up; Jupiter and Uranus can�t hold out forever,�
All three Sailor Senshi began cautiously checking doors, praying that there were no youma waiting behind any. Sailor Mars decided to concentrate on checking storage rooms and closets. The youma would probably pack the two prisoners in there. At the third storage room she tried, the raven-haired girl found a collapsed man with a cape draped about him lying on the floor, his chest rising and falling slowly. Mars looked at Tuxedo Kamen dispassionately and took in his battered body, coloured towels littering the floor around him, having somehow fallen off their shelves. She turned her head towards Mercury and Sailor Moon and opened her mouth to call them. But instead Mars stopped, her mouth halfway open. She turned her eyes back to the injured prince. Wouldn�t it be easy just to torch him, burning him until there was nothing left? Sailor Mars could say it was a youma she had destroyed; there would be no remains for identification. The man stirred from his slumber, his eyes opening a crack, interrupting her thoughts.
�Rei� is that you? Oh no, I�m dead aren�t I?� he whispered.
�Not yet,� Mars said coldly.
The senshi of fire felt one corner of her mouth twitch unconsciously. She could feel the black flames of hate burn higher and stronger in her heart, threatening to consume it.
Sailor Mars� mouth twitched more, pulling her lips into a half-smile.
Mars looked back at Sailor Moon, seeing the reason for her existence. It would be so easy� here and now she could take the reigns of fate and guide them to her own happiness. The princess and prince couldn�t have a future, a destiny, if the prince died in Sailor Mars� flames.
Sailor Moon turned her head and met Sailor Mars� intense stare. �Did you find them?� she asked, her voice waveringly slightly.
Mars looked into her only love�s shiny blue eyes, seeing the hope in them. Hope for her friend�s safety, and the safety of her true love, Mamoru. Sailor Mars blinked rapidly. What had she been thinking? Murder her princesses� soul mate? How could she even consider such a thing?! Mars had sworn an oath that she would get Usagi�s prince back for her, and she would -not- break it. Sailor Mars may be doomed to eternal loneliness, but Sailor Moon was not. And Mars would not deny her princess happiness� even if it were not with her. The undying flames of love strengthened and rolled over the black fire of hate in her heart.
Sailor Mars put on a smile. �Yeah, I�ve found Tuxedo Kamen� but he�s hurt,� she said.
Sailor Moon and Sailor Mercury hurried over to the storage room, Sailor Mars stepping out of the way.
�Mamoru!� cried Sailor Moon, kneeling down beside her love and hugging him.
Tuxedo Kamen�s eyes fluttered open more and turned to Sailor Moon�s face. �Usa-ko�� he gave a strained smile.
�Oh, what have they done to you?!� sobbed Sailor Moon, tears starting to roll down her face.
Sailor Mars could watch no longer. She turned away from the sight and leaned against the wall by the door, swallowing hard. Sailor Mercury smiled sympathetically at the heart-broken girl. Mars ignored her. She didn�t need her pity. Sailor Mars ground her teeth in determination. She had already settled her feelings back at Makoto�s apartment. Mars would protect Sailor Moon, nothing more. So that�s what she would focus on; it was the reason she had come back to her princess in the first place, or had she forgotten? Sailor Mars clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles cracking as she blocked out the two lovers� whispers of affection. Duty. That�s all Mars had, the duty to protect her princess. But she would do that duty like no other senshi; nothing would harm her princess, every threat would be erased by her hand.
Sailor Mars turned her head towards the door as Tuxedo Kamen and Sailor Moon staggered out, the blonde supporting the prince. Sailor Mercury moved to Tuxedo Kamen�s other side, giving extra help.
�It�s all right,� he stated, �I can stand.�
The Sailor Senshi let the prince go, and he swayed a little on his feet causing Sailor Moon to move to support him again. Tuxedo Kamen waved her away and steadied himself.
�I�m fine,� he said reassuringly, plucking his hat and mask from what seemed like thin air and putting them on. �I just have a score to settle with someone�� He balled one hand into a fist and frowned in anger.
�Have you seen Sailor Venus?� asked Mercury.
Tuxedo Kamen face crumpled at the mention of the senshi of love. Sailor Mars knew that couldn�t be a good sign.
�She�s� not the same. The leader of the youma did something to her, brainwashed her�� he said as Sailor Moon starting dabbing at the cuts on his face with a towel.
�Where is this youma leader?� asked Mars in a monotone voice.
Tuxedo Kamen looked at Mars, as if just really seeing her for the first time. �You�re alive! I thought I was hallucinating before,�
�No, you were not. Where can I find the leader?� Sailor Mars asked again, her voice hardening somewhat.
�I can show you,� he said.
The group of four moved down the hallway, the corpses of youma getting more and more dense as they went. Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Uranus had obviously had some fun. They turned a corner and saw the other senshi waiting out side two large double doors. Both Jupiter and Uranus were breathing heavily and had numerous cuts and bruises but otherwise looked all right.
�They just ran away,� panted Sailor Uranus.
�Yeah� those cowards, all you have to do is kill a dozen or two and they lose all nerve to fight ya,� continued Sailor Jupiter.
Sailor Mercury threw her arms around Jupiter and embraced her tightly, which the brunette returned just as eagerly. After a moment, Mercury loosened her hold and looked up at the tall senshi.
�Just a dozen?� she said with a raised eyebrow.
�Or two,� Jupiter replied with a smirk.
Sailor Uranus chuckled. �You two better cut that out, if Luna saw you do that during Sailor business she�d go ballistic,�
�Luna isn�t here,� Jupiter said, grinning impishly.
Sailor Mars looked on at the two lovers� hi-jinks, watching without expression. She refused to look at Sailor Moon and fantasise. The fire senshi was done with things like that.
�We found Tuxedo Kamen,� Mars stated, cutting off anymore banter, �The leader is behind these doors. Lets go.�
Sailor Mars marched towards the double doors, aware of her princess giving her that look again. The raven-haired girl pushed open the doors and moved inside the finely decorated room, the other senshi and Tuxedo Kamen at her heels. -She- was waiting for them across the opposite side of the room, standing near another set of high double doors.
�Minako�� Sailor Moon whispered, beginning to move towards her.
Tuxedo Kamen put a hand on her shoulder and held her back. �She�s not the Minako we know anymore,� he said grimly, �she�s with them now.�
Sailor Venus ignored the conversation and glared at the group. �I won�t let any of you near her, you fiends!� she cried, �In the name of Venus, I will punish you!�
Sailor Moon shook off Tuxedo Kamen�s hand and approached the senshi of love cautiously.
�Minako� don�t you remember? It�s me, Usagi�� Mars� princess pointed to herself as she walked slowly towards the other blonde.
Venus stood stock still for a second, as if remembering something. �Usagi�? Yes� I remember�� she said, a wide smile coming to her face.
Sailor Moon met the smile with one of her own and moved more quickly towards Venus, her arms slightly outstretched and eyes bright.
Sailor Venus� smile turned into a demonic sneer. �CRESCENT BEAM!�
Sailor Mars beat Tuxedo Kamen to the punch, leaping at Sailor Moon and pushing her to the ground. The beam ripped across her back as she fell on top of her princess, tearing her fuku and singeing flesh. Sailor Mars grabbed on to Sailor Moon and rolled the two of them behind a love seat. The fire senshi heard Uranus curse and Venus fire another crescent beam at the other Sailor Senshi and Tuxedo Kamen, forcing them to dive for cover.
�Minako�� Mars� princess whispered again, her voice thick with emotion.
Sailor Mars felt another fire start to flare up inside her, the fire of duty, of determination� of vengeance. It blazed hotter than ever before, as if fuelled by some outside source. Someone had tried to kill her princess. Someone had threatened her princesses� life. And like all threats to Mars� only love, that someone would pay.
A crescent beam smashed through the love seat just above Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars� head, burning a hole in the wall behind them. Mars ignored it and stood up, revealing herself. The fire inside her burned like fury, her mind focusing only on the thought of protecting her princess. Mars pulled out an ofuda.
�Rin, pyou, tou, sha, kai, jin, retsu, sai, zen. Akuryou taisan!�
She causally threw it in the air in front of her, the corners of her mouth twitching upwards again.
�FIRE SOUL BIRD!�
A fire soul flew out from her fingers and collided with the ofuda, bursting into a phoenix and shrieking furiously towards Sailor Venus. Sailor Mars was distantly aware of people shouting, and something pulling at her leg. And also mad laughter. She ignored all distractions. There was a threat to be dealt with.
Venus� eyes widened as the bird of flame rocketed towards her, its beak open and ready to consume its prey. The senshi of love dived desperately to her left, trying to evade the vengeful flames. But the bird corrected its course, crashing into the girl�s back and exploding, setting her fuku on fire. Sailor Venus screamed and rolled on the carpet, smothering the flames.
Sailor Mars walked with murderous intent towards the prone senshi, the corners of her mouth twitching upwards to curve into a sinister smile. The fire of duty consumed everything inside Mars, the inferno hotter than the flames of hell, her lavender eyes smouldering with self-righteous hatred for the one who would attack her princess. The princesses� bodyguard bent down to Sailor Venus, wrapping her hands around her throat and pulling her up onto her feet. She squeezed at the threat�s air passage attempting to snuff the life out of it with her bare hands. The threat batted feebly at her arms, trying to save its pathetic existence. Didn�t it know that Mars was its executioner? It had attacked her princess, a crime that was punishable by death.
As Sailor Mars crushed the throat of the threat, she became aware of people pulling at her, trying to stop her. Mars heard a hysterical voice call her name from miles away, a voice she recognised. It was her princess who was calling her, no doubt encouraging her bodyguard to make the threat suffer. Suffer? No� Mars� princess wasn�t like that. Why would her compassionate princess want someone to suffer?
Sailor Mars concentrated, controlling the inferno within her heart and mind. The fire senshi�s eyes refocused, coming back to reality to see Sailor Venus� blue oxygen-deprived face in front of her. The girl�s hands dangled weakly by her sides. Sailor Moon was crying and screaming at her to stop, pulling on her arms with all her strength, just as the other senshi and Tuxedo Kamen were. Sailor Mars let go of Venus as if scalded, the limp body dropping to the floor. Mars looked down at her friend in pure disbelieve.
No� NO! What have I done, what have I DONE?! Rei mentally screamed, her arms falling to her sides, eyes wide and mouth open.
Sailor Mercury and Sailor Moon knelt quickly by Venus� side, Mercury desperately checking for a pulse on the blonde�s black and blue throat. Sailor Moon sobbed, tears streaming down her face as she held on to one of her friend�s limp hands. Mars� princess looked up at the fire senshi with tear-flooded blue eyes and suddenly Sailor Mars knew what was in the look the blonde odango atama had been giving her all night. Fear. But now it wasn�t just fear, but horror, shock and confusion as well. Sailor Moon�s blue eyes looked into Mars� lavender ones and seemed to ask �why?� over and over again.
Sailor Mars stepped backwards, shaking her head weakly, just as Mercury began CPR. But it was her princesses� eyes that made her retreat. Fear and horror. Sailor Moon looked at Mars as if she was a monster. But the blonde was right; she was a monster. Sailor Mars couldn�t take her only love looking at her that way. Mars hadn�t just killed her friend, but she had killed whatever platonic relationship she used to have with Usagi. Twin tears trickled out of her eyes, eyes that had a broken appearance, the teardrops running down her face unchecked. Now Sailor Mars truly had nothing left.
And behind the two double doors, she heard a woman laugh. Mad laughter. The laugher of the victorious.
Part nineteen |
Back |