Absence � By Kirika
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Chapter 27 - Knives In The Dark
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Setsuna kicked one of her crossed legs idly as she sat on the couch, waiting for �them� to arrive. That was the problem with being able to see into the future; there were rarely any surprises. Plus, the senshi of time could hardly ever use her privileged information to aid any of her friends. Except this time she could bend the rules. After all, the coming events would involve her, so the green-haired woman decided it was within reason to use her foresight for personal purposes.
Setsuna looked down to the floor where Hotaru and Chibi-Usa were watching TV, dressed in their pyjamas. Chibi-Usa had come to the outer senshi residence to have a sleepover with Hotaru, which was becoming a near nightly occurrence. Setsuna allowed herself a small smile as she watched the two girls lounge about on the carpet, chattering about this and that with their eyes glued to the television screen. The senshi of time knew they were still best friends, but that would change eventually. Even Chibi- Usa and Hotaru didn�t know their own developing feelings for one another, but Setsuna knew what would happen. She always knew everything, did she not?
Setsuna let out a melancholy sigh. She didn�t know everything. The future streams of time were always partially cloudy, not completely revealing all the possible paths. You would think that after a millennia of loneliness you�d get used to being alone, used to having no one to share your life with. But Setsuna still wasn�t used to that fact. No matter how diligently she had searched through the future timelines, the guardian of time had found no indication that she would ever find her special someone, her true love, her soul mate. It seemed Setsuna was destined for an immortal existence filled with loneliness. The woman envied Rei; the girl had spat in destiny�s face and had the courage to forge her own fate, no matter how futile it was. Setsuna wished she could tell Rei how the whole situation would play out, but that would definitely be breaking the rules. In truth, the guardian of time didn�t know -exactly- how things would end, but she knew the crux of it all was the �moment�, the part of the timeline she couldn�t see past. But what Setsuna had saw so far did not bode well for the fire senshi; the senshi of time was beginning to regret retrieving Rei from Yokohama.
Setsuna snapped out of her thoughts as Hotaru and Chibi-Usa shared a cheerful giggle. Not all the Sailor Senshi�s futures were so grim, thankfully. At least, these two futures could be steered away from danger by the guardian of time�s own hand. The two girls had conned Setsuna into letting them stay up late, even though it was a school night, with a variety of pouts and puppy dog expressions. It was safer if the two girls stayed awake anyway; Setsuna had saw grisly possibilities if the pair was to be asleep in Hotaru�s room when the enemy came. She also saw her own death occurring tonight, but that was nothing new in itself. Setsuna was a Sailor Senshi, and any fight she took part in could end up with her being dead; it was always a possible future. She had even seen her self at one point tripping while crossing a road, then being hit by a car and killed. Having witnessed your own demise countless times does tend to dull the experience, but it was still somewhat disturbing. Unfortunately, the coming battle would spell certain death for the senshi of time, unless another senshi came to her aid. And Setsuna couldn�t die; she had a duty to guard the gates of time.
The green-haired woman uncrossed her legs and sat up straighter. The enemy would be approaching the house soon. �Firefly, why don�t you take Chibi-Usa up to your room?� Setsuna suggested.
Hotaru rolled over off her stomach and sat up, looking at the woman. �But Setsuna-mama, you said we could stay up,� she argued softly.
�I know I did, but I�m expecting some� guests, to arrive soon,� Setsuna explained to the pale girl.
��Guests�, Puu?� Chibi-Usa said, �What kinda guests? A Sailor Senshi?�
�No. Uninvited guests. Now be good girls and stay upstairs, no matter what you hear from downstairs. Do you understand?� Setsuna instructed.
Hotaru blinked a few times at the green-haired woman, then looked at Chibi- Usa at the same time her friend looked at her. Both girls turned their gazes back to the eldest senshi.
�All right, Setsuna-mama,� Hotaru agreed.
The young girl took Chibi-Usa�s hand in her own gently and got to her feet, pulling the pink-haired girl up with her. Hotaru led her best friend to the stairs leading up to the second storey, giving a last backwards glance to Setsuna, her eyes laced with worry. Chibi-Usa looked back and forth between the other two senshi, obviously confused, but to her credit, she didn�t ask questions.
�Come on Chibi-Usa,� Hotaru said, �I can show you the new lamps I got.�
Once the two girls footsteps faded up the stairs, Setsuna took out her communicator. She prayed Rei had listened to her advice to keep her own communicator close by, or at least told another senshi to do so. Setsuna�s life depended on it. She quickly tapped a few buttons to activate the device, opening a channel to all Sailor Senshi bar two. Time was running short.
�This is Pluto to all active Sailor Senshi, requesting immediate assistance. Multiple youma are approaching the outer senshi house and Minato General Hospital. I require immediate assistance at the outer senshi residence,� Setsuna said quickly, then deactivated her communicator, putting it away.
�PLUTO PLANET POWER, MAKE UP!�
Sailor Pluto completed her transformation and whirled her time staff around in the air, then brought it down with a bang on the floor in an upright position. The youma would be coming any second now. Pluto prayed Hotaru and Chibi-Usa stayed upstairs; in nearly every future she had witnessed, if the girls came down to help her one or both would meet their end. While staying upstairs didn�t absolve them from danger altogether, it did give them better chances. Sailor Pluto had considering running away with the children, but she knew that would be disastrous, most likely causing the deaths of all three of them. No, it was better to make a stand here and now.
Sailor Pluto exhaled slowly as the enemy cut the electricity to the house, making the shadows grow darker, the only light now from the streetlamps outside. Two of the most powerful Sailor Senshi were residing in this house, and the guardian of time knew that neither would give in easily. Pluto hoped that one senshi would come to help her, or her death was assured.
As a deep black mist began to form in one of the dark shadows, Sailor Pluto once again wished she had a special someone to fight by her side. She didn�t want to die alone, not knowing love.
******
Rei awoke all of a sudden, flicking her eyes about the dark room. It was like something had disturbed her slumber. She was surprised to feel a weight on her chest and legs, but smiled when she saw that it was Usagi, curled up in her lap. The two of them must have fallen asleep. Rei glanced at the clock on the wall. It was certainly late; Usagi�s parents must be worried.
Let them wait thought Rei as she held her only love a little closer with one arm.
The fire senshi gently stroked her fingers down her princesses� satin smooth cheek with her free hand, watching the relaxed rise and fall of the blonde�s chest. It seemed that Usagi�s nightmares had finally abated. The girl had told Rei days before that she still sometimes had disturbing dreams about the miko, or another senshi, being killed or mortally injured in a fight. Rei had been afraid that with what happened to Makoto, her princesses� nightmares would come more frequently, but it appeared that Usagi was sleeping peacefully.
Rei bent down and lightly kissed the top of her true love�s head, being careful not to wake her. The miko breathed in the scent of Usagi�s blonde hair, smelling the vanilla shampoo she no doubt used. For the first time in a long while, Rei was happy with her lot in life. Her friend Makoto was still in a critical condition and the miko prayed for her recovery, but the fire senshi was still extremely happy. Rei felt slightly guilty that she could be so overjoyed while Ami was totally miserable and distraught with concern for Makoto. Rei had told Ami that the youma responsible for her girlfriend�s condition had been killed, but the knowledge seemed to give little comfort to the blue-haired genius. The miko suspected that her friend was still watching over Makoto at this very moment. She wondered if Ami would skip school again.
Ami�s mother must already know about her and Makoto�s relationship deduced Rei.
Usagi had left to visit Mamoru earlier, but to Rei�s delight, her princess had returned after an hour or so. The blonde had brought Rei chocolates as a present instead of the traditional gift of grapes. Usagi must have made some effort not to eat any before her bodyguard received them; none of the chocolaty treats were missing from their tray. Of course, that didn�t stop Rei from teasing the blonde about her eating habits.
Usagi yawned and snuggled in Rei�s arms, remaining asleep. While the fire senshi was debating whether to go back to sleep or stay awake and enjoy the feel of her only love, her communicator sparked to life. Rei had taken Setsuna�s advice to heart and had kept her communicator strapped to her wrist.
�This is Pluto to all active Sailor Senshi, requesting immediate assistance. Multiple youma are approaching the outer senshi house and Minato General Hospital. I require immediate assistance at the outer senshi residence,� the voice from the device said.
Minato general hospital? That�s here! Rei panicked.
Another voice crackled over the communicator. �This is Sailor Venus, I�m on my way, Pluto. Pluto? Do you hear me?� Minako�s voice said.
�This is Mercury,� said Ami�s voice, rather groggily, �I�m already at the hospital. The youma must be coming for the injured Sailor Senshi! I�m going to stay in Jupiter�s room.�
�I read you, Mercury,� Rei replied into her communicator, �Sailor Moon is with me. We�ll go and help Neptune and Uranus.�
There was silence on the communication device for an instant. �Sailor Moon is still with you?� Ami�s voice said with mild surprise, �Alright Mars, but be careful. I know you aren�t at one hundred percent. I don�t know how the- � The senshi�s voice and image cut off with a squeal of static.
Damnit, the signal must be jammed Rei guessed, banging her communicator a couple of times on the bed.
�Gah?! Whaa?� Usagi groaned as her eyes fluttered open, the conversation between the Sailor Senshi and the squealing noise waking her up.
Usagi sat up in Rei�s lap and appeared slightly disorientated for a second. A small blush graced her cheeks as she looked down at her bodyguard�s chest, where she had drooled in her sleep.
�Oh� I, uh� I guess I fell asleep,� Usagi said, then reddened more when she realised she had slept in Rei�s arms.
�We both did, odango,� Rei replied easily. She rearranged her arms casually around her only love, one around the blonde�s slender waist and the other over her bare legs, causing Usagi to tense slightly. Rei didn�t notice.
�But we have company,� the fire senshi continued, her voice turning grave, �youma are coming here, to the hospital. They may even already be here. I�d like to hope that the youma are coming to this place for some other reason, but I think they must have found out that wounded Sailor Senshi are here.�
�Oh no�� Usagi whispered in horror, �how could they find out? We have to guard Makoto, she�s defenceless! And Michiru, and what about Haruka?!� Rei�s princess broke her bodyguard�s hold and slid off her lap, onto the floor. She whirled around to face Rei.
�Where are Ami and Minako? Are they on their way here?� Usagi asked, all business, moving into her role as leader of the Sailor Senshi.
Rei blinked for a second at her true love�s sudden change. She could never get used to Usagi changing from ditz mode to serious so fast. �Uh, Ami is already in Makoto�s room, she�s been there all day I think. Minako is going to help Setsuna at her house; more youma are attacking there too,� she reported to her princess.
Usagi nodded, digesting the information. �Okay. Since Ami has Makoto covered, we should go help Michiru and Haruka,� she paused abruptly in her orders and looked at Rei with worry. �Are you up for this? I can handle it alone�� she said, in a much softer tone.
Rei pulled off the bed covers and swivelled her body around to face Usagi. She gingerly put her feet on the floor and stood up, swallowing a wince as her ankle ached uncomfortably. The fire senshi schooled her face to remain blank, aware that her princess was watching her carefully for any signs of pain. Rei straightened her posture and grinned confidently at Usagi.
�I think I can take it,� she said, flexing her arms experimentally and pretending the pain belonged to someone else.
Usagi watched her unsurely for a moment and then nodded her head in acceptance. �Okay then. Lets transform,� she ordered, �MOON COSMIC POWER, MAKE UP!�
�MARS CRYSTAL POWER, MAKE UP!�
Once the transformations were complete, Sailor Mars and Sailor Moon stealthily opened the hospital room door, and stepped out into the quiet hall.
******
�Dead scream,� Sailor Pluto whispered, aiming her time staff at the forming mist assassin.
A huge pink energy ball launched at the pitch-black figure, causing the creature to dissipate into vapours once more. There was an enormous explosion as the energy ball blasted a gigantic hole in the wall, sending plaster and ornaments flying everywhere and allowing the night air to enter the house.
Michiru is not going to be pleased� Pluto thought.
The guardian of time spun around to face a second assassin appearing out of another shadow. The youma seemed to be a humanoid male and was completely covered in loose black clothes: bandages, scarfs, sashes, a hooded cloak and just plain strips of black material. The only skin Pluto could see on the creature was a narrow slit between the dark fabrics for the thing�s eyes. It had a sickly white complexion.
The youma moved like quicksilver, its black bandaged hand flashing inside a sash and whipping out a throwing knife. Its arm moved in a blur as it threw the knife at Sailor Pluto. The senshi manoeuvred her staff in an intercept course and deflected the blade out of the air with a metal �ping� sound. Just as Pluto was about to fire another dead scream attack at the knife- throwing assassin, the youma turned into its ethereal form, fading away into the shadows.
Sailor Pluto darted to her right as a small crossbow bolt whizzed by her side, imbedding itself in the kitchen counter behind her. She saw a third assassin, dressed similarly to the knife-throwing one, level its second small single-handed crossbow at her chest. Pluto moved on instinct as a serrated dagger flashed at her face from the left, the first youma assassin having teleported to the shadows behind her. At that moment the crossbow assassin fired its second bolt straight at Sailor Pluto. The senshi of time quickly smashed the butt of her staff into the stomach of the dagger youma, and then swung the weapon around to hit the bolt away from her. The bolt was knocked off its deadly course and ended up ripping into the fabric of the couch. Sailor Pluto gripped her time staff horizontally with both hands, and brought it directly upwards to forcefully ram under the dagger youma�s chin, snapping its head back. She twirled her staff in her hands and swiped at the assassin�s legs, dropping the creature to the floor.
Sailor Pluto swivelled around to smash another throwing knife away from her body, followed by another and another, her time staff moving deftly through the air to meet each blade.
Three� there are only three youma! Pluto realised, and knowing for a fact that the other two were upstairs, searching for Hotaru and Chibi-Usa.
The guardian of time screamed as a crossbow bolt thudded into her left thigh, causing her to stumble. She gritted her teeth and regained her footing to block a youma assassin�s dagger thrust, and lash straight out with the shaft of her time staff in retaliation, crushing the dark figure�s nose. The assassin reeled backwards, holding its broken nose, black blood dripping down to the carpet.
Sailor Pluto heard a whistling sound behind her and felt a throwing knife imbed into her upper left shoulder blade. She collapsed to her knees, leaning heavily on her time staff, the long pole weapon the only thing holding her up. Pluto growled low in her throat and hastily got to her feet, whirling around to face the crossbow and throwing knife assassins.
�Dead scream,� she whispered, not caring that the close range between her and youma would cause her to be caught in the energy blast.
A pink ball of light sailed towards the two youma, making the pair dive into the darkest shadows and turn into black vapours. The energy ball passed through the mists and blew the front door of the house apart far behind them, causing wooden splinters to fall like rain from above.
Sailor Pluto heard shouts from upstairs, and knew that the two young girls had attacked the other assassins. She prayed for their safety since that was all she could do now. At least Hotaru and Chibi-Usa had stayed upstairs like she asked them to. They were both such good girls. Pluto grunted as a crossbow bolt slashed open the right side of her Sailor fuku, her red blood dotting the floor. It appeared that her long existence was to cease. But she had to try and kill as many youma as she could, or Hotaru and Chibi-Usa would stand no chance.
Sailor Pluto twirled her staff around and levelled it at the forming youma assassins. The end was here.
******
�I think I heard Puu transform,� Chibi-Usa murmured, as she and Hotaru sat on the dark-haired girl�s bed.
Hotaru glanced at her friend and merely nodded. She knew something was going on, and it wasn�t good. The senshi of death really wanted to go and help her Setsuna-mama, but she had said to stay upstairs, in her room. Besides, Hotaru didn�t want to abandon Chibi-Usa.
Chibi-Usa screamed and hugged Hotaru when a huge boom shook the house, causing dust from the ceiling to fall in puffs to the floor.
thought Hotaru, Setsuna-mama is in trouble�
�What should we do, Hotaru?� Chibi-Usa asked her best friend, looking to the pale girl for guidance.
Hotaru swallowed nervously and hugged Chibi-Usa back. �We� we should do as Setsuna-mama says,� she replied, trying to sound unafraid. Hotaru wasn�t sure if she was convincing.
The two girls sat in the dark listening to the sounds of a struggle downstairs. The lights were not working for some reason. Chibi-Usa had said something about the power being out. Despite her resolve to be brave for her friend�s sake, Hotaru was getting scared. She squeezed the pink-haired girl a little tighter.
�Maybe we should transform,� Chibi-Usa suggested.
When the senshi of death heard her Setsuna-mama howl in agony from downstairs, she decided to accept her friend�s suggestion. She couldn�t sit idly by while someone she cared about was getting hurt.
�Okay,� Hotaru said softly, �Let�s do it.�
Chibi-Usa nodded and let go of her best friend, getting off the bed. Hotaru found herself missing the girl�s comforting touch.
�MOON PRISM POWER, MAKE UP!�
Hotaru got to her feet. �SATURN PLANET POWER, MAKE UP!�
Just when the pair of girls completed their transformations into Sailor Senshi, there was another earth shaking explosion from downstairs, causing the windows to shudder.
�We should go and help Pluto,� Sailor Saturn said, beginning to walk towards her bedroom door. She hated to disobey Setsuna-mama, but it was obvious that Pluto needed her help.
�Look out!� Sailor Chibi Moon cried, pushing Saturn to the floor as a shiny metallic object whizzed over their heads and stuck, wobbling, in the wall.
�Ahhh! Youma!� Chibi Moon yelled as she dragged her friend to her feet with one hand, the other pointing at a figure with lots of black strips of cloth dangling off its body.
Sailor Saturn watched with a peculiar fascination as a dark mist began to appear in the corner of her room, right next to her lamp collection on the desk. The mist got thicker and turned into a creature with a female human shape, dressed like the other figure. Saturn knew they had to be part of the group who were hurting Sailor Pluto on the ground floor. She levelled her silence glaive at the pair of youma.
�I am the senshi of death and rebirth, Sailor Saturn!� she stated, her voice taking on a slight chill.
Sailor Chibi Moon glanced at Saturn, and decided to take her lead. �And I am the Sailor of love and justice in training, Sailor Chibi Moon! In the name of the future moon, I will punish you!" she shouted, glaring threateningly at the two youma. Saturn just thought the pink-haired senshi looked kind of cute.
�Stay back Saturn,� Sailor Chibi Moon said, �leave this to me!�
Chibi Moon flicked her wrist and a heart shaped rod appeared in her hands. The two youma flinched as they saw the �weapon�, and glanced at each other.
�PINK SUGAR HEART ATTACK!�
A line of hearts bashed into the male youma�s chest, causing it to take a step back and stare down at the hearts with mild concern. The heart stream ended after a few seconds, with the assassin seeming unharmed. Sailor Chibi Moon looked crest-fallen.
She really needs some new attacks Saturn decided.
Sailor Saturn could just imagine the smirks under the two youma�s black scarves. The female assassin drew a long, wicked curved knife, the edge of the blade dripping with a clear fluid. Saturn hoped it wasn�t poison or something. The other youma assassin drew three throwing knives, each blade between the fingers on one black-clad hand.
�Stay behind me Chibi Moon,� Saturn commanded.
�No, it�s too dan- ahh!� Sailor Chibi Moon�s stubborn refusal was cut off as Sailor Saturn pulled the girl behind her with one hand, just as three throwing knives were hurled through the air at them.
Saturn struck out with her glaive three times, being careful not to clip Chibi-Moon behind her. The two assassin�s eyes widened as the three knives all landed on the floor. The youma looked at each other, and then began to spread to either side of Saturn cautiously.
The senshi of death spun her silence glaive around her head and prepared for another attack.
******
�Why is it so dark in here?� Sailor Moon whined as she and Sailor Mars made their way down the hall.
�The power must be cut,� Mars whispered back, �the back up generator only takes care of certain areas. Hallway lights must be low priority.�
There were still nurses on night shift duty, which Sailor Mars and Sailor Moon had to avoid. It wouldn�t do to let the hospital staff destroy the element of surprise they had on the approaching youma.
�You�re not afraid of the dark, are you odango atama?� the fire senshi teased her princess.
�Of course not,� Sailor Moon denied, �it�s just that you never know what can jump out of the darkness.�
�Don�t worry,� Mars cooed soothingly, �I�ll protect you from the boogie monster.�
Sailor Moon merely growled something about annoying girls.
The two Sailors eventually made it to the hallway intersection, both stopping at the junction as realisation hit them. One way led to Michiru�s room, and the other to Haruka�s room. Sailor Mars really didn�t want to leave her princess. Sailor Moon also hesitated for a moment, not looking entirely sure what to do. The blonde then shook her head slightly, her long tresses swinging.
�I�ll go to Haruka,� she said, �you can go to Michiru.�
Sailor Mars simply stood there, putting the majority of her weight on her good foot as she mulled over the situation. Setsuna had said the �moment� when Sailor Moon�s life would be in certain danger would probably occur at night. Mars couldn�t afford to abandon her princesses� side. The fire senshi looked at Sailor Moon, her mouth halfway open as the tried to think of an excuse to stay near the blonde.
�Rei�� Sailor Moon sighed, �I�ll be fine.�
Sailor Mars continued to stare at her only love, looking not one bit convinced.
�Come on, Rei� Michiru might need your help. You can�t let her down,� Sailor Moon argued.
Mars cursed under her breath. She knew her princess was right. But damnit, she didn�t have to like it. �All right�� the senshi of fire conceded reluctantly.
Sailor Moon nodded and gave her bodyguard a bright, reassuring smile. Before Mars� only love turned to go down the other hallway, the miko wrapped her arms around the girl�s waist and pulled her close, causing her to let out faint squeak of protest.
�Rei, we shouldn�t,� Sailor Moon started.
Sailor Mars silenced her with a passionate kiss, making the blonde girl�s cheeks turn pink. Sailor Moon struggled weakly in her bodyguard�s embrace, but it was a token effort and she quickly gave in to the kiss, returning it with equal vigour and folding her arms around Mars� neck.
After several long, pleasure-filled seconds, Sailor Mars ended the kiss. She looked deeply into her princesses� eyes, as if willing her to remain safe. �Be careful� my princess,� she whispered softly.
Sailor Moon stared back and stopped breathing, merely nodding her head slowly in response. After a second, the blonde came to her senses and left Mars� embrace. She stepped backwards, giving her bodyguard one last look, then turned around and jogged as quietly as she could to Haruka�s hospital room. Sailor Mars watched her go for a moment, and then turned to head towards Michiru�s room.
******
The closer Sailor Mars got to Michiru�s room, the more her instincts flared up, causing adrenaline to pump through the fire senshi�s veins faster and faster. The only thing Mars could hear was her slow, controlled breathing. She couldn�t shake the nagging feeling that Sailor Moon would somehow be horrifically injured, all because Sailor Mars wasn�t there to protect her.
Come on, you worry-wort, it�s not like she�s some helpless damsel in distress Mars chastised herself.
Sailor Mars� vision snapped to a closed door on the far right side of the hallway as she heard a weak cry come from within. There was a loud splashing sound and Mars noticed water leaking under the door. Michiru needed her help.
The fire senshi ran as best she could with her aching ankle towards Michiru�s door, and barged it open with her shoulder, flinging the door back to bang against the wall. She quickly took stock of the situation. There were two black-clad figures, both humanoid, but Mars noted that one had a long thin tail. At first glance, the miko thought they were ninjas or something, but the vibes she was getting off the pair told her they were not human. Sailor Neptune was in the corner of the room, leaning heavily against the wall and taking laboured breaths while clutching at her stomach with one arm. She still hadn�t recovered from her previous wounds to be of any assistance. It was up to Sailor Mars.
�Hey, you two!� she called out, causing all heads in the room to turn to her. �FIRE SOUL!�
A fireball launched from Mars� fingertips, smashing into the back of one of the youma, causing its clothes to burst into flames. The assassin staggered about the room, waving its arms wildly. The remaining assassin with the tail spun around and slashed low at Mars with a dagger. The senshi sucked in her stomach and angled her body away from the blow, letting the attack pass her by. Mars delivered a counterattack, ramming her palm into the assassin�s face. She followed smoothly with a punch to its stomach, doubling the youma over, and then chopped at the back of its neck. The assassin keeled over, falling flat on its face. Sailor Mars shook her still- injured hands painfully.
Mars glanced at Neptune and saw her look back in gratitude, offering her saviour a shaky smile. The miko turned her head to the flaming youma, only to see it partially disappear in a cloud of black mist. However, the creature reformed swiftly, its flaming clothes somehow affecting its metamorphosis.
The fires must be stopping it from changing Mars presumed.
The blazing assassin collapsed to the floor, burnt alive, the youma having been unable to stop the inferno on its body.
�Behind you!� Sailor Neptune suddenly warned.
Sailor Mars moved on reflex, diving forward over the bed and rolling on the other side just as several throwing knives embedded themselves in the wall in front of her.
�MARS FLAME SNIPER!�
Mars stood up from behind the bed, her fiery bow drawn and ready to launch a hot, melting death at the assassin. Instead, all she saw was a slight trace of black vapours.
�Damnit,� Mars cursed, letting her bow fade away.
Sailor Mars heard a gasp from Neptune and turned to the outer senshi. Mars eyes widened as the youma materialised behind Neptune, where she was leaning in a dark corner of the room. The assassin put a jagged blade to the senshi�s exposed throat.
�No, MICHIRU!!�
Mars glanced to the doorway and saw that Sailor Uranus and Sailor Moon were standing there, the blonde outer senshi looking on in sheer horror at the events unfolding. Sailor Mars had to do something; she was closest and had the only chance to save Michiru�s life.
The youma assassin�s eyes narrowed and its hand holding the blade tensed, causing both Uranus and Sailor Moon to cry out. Mars had to act now. She gave a quick prayer to any god who was listening then reached behind her, moving like lightening and plucking one of the throwing knives out of the wall. In one fluid motion, Mars threw the sharp weapon at the youma, the blade stabbing the creature through its left eyeball and piercing its brain. Sailor Neptune eased the assassin�s blade away from her throat and let the body slide down the wall. She let out the breath she had been holding.
�Oh, thank god, Michiru!� Uranus cried, stumbling over to the light green- haired woman and pulling her into a gentle embrace, being careful not to aggravate her lover�s injuries.
Sailor Mars limped away from the pair towards the door, letting them have their private moment. Sailor Moon caught her bodyguard by the upper arms, supporting her. Mars smirked at her princess.
�I take it all is well at your side of things?� she asked.
Sailor Moon nodded, glancing at Uranus and Neptune then back at Mars. �There were two youma near Uranus� room, just like those two,� she said gesturing with her head at the torched assassin. �Both moon dusted.�
Mars lowered her head, relieved that Sailor Moon appeared to be unharmed. The fire senshi�s head abruptly shot up and her eyes widened. �What about Mercury and Makoto?� she said anxiously.
Sailor Moon met her concerned gaze with one of her own, obviously having forgotten about the other two senshi. As if on cue, both Sailor Moon�s and Sailor Mars� communicators crackled to life.
�This is Sailor Mercury; is anybody listening?� came Mercury�s voice over the devices.
�We read you loud and clear, Sailor Mercury,� Uranus said behind Mars, speaking into her watch communicator, the relief obvious in her voice. �All four of us are perfectly fine.� Sailor Uranus gazed deeply into Sailor Neptune�s eyes, holding the woman around the waist delicately.
�Good�� Mercury said over the communicators, her image looking glad, �Jupiter and I are all right. There was only one youma and it was taken care of. The communicator jamming has appeared to have stopped also, however I can�t get in contact with Venus or Pluto.�
�Oh no� maybe I should go and help,� Sailor Moon suggested, �they could be in big trouble.�
�Maybe�� said Sailor Mars, �but by the time you make it to Haruka and Michiru�s house you�ll probably be too late to do anything to help.�
�I�m afraid she�s right, Sailor Moon,� Mercury�s voice said over the communicator, �we�ll just have to hope for the best. We really do owe our lives to Sailor Pluto, without her warning things may have turned out a lot worse.� Mars saw Sailor Mercury�s image on the communicator turn back to something in the background, no doubt the critically injured Makoto.
Sailor Mercury was right; things could have been a lot worse. Without Pluto�s warning, it was highly likely all of the Sailor Senshi in Minato General Hospital would have been slain in their sleep. Mars shivered at the thought, imagining her princess stabbed through the back or with her throat slit. On impulse, the fire senshi pulled Sailor Moon into a hug. The blonde squirmed a little, no doubt scared that Uranus and Neptune would think the gesture was something other than just friendly. Mars didn�t care though, she just had to hold the girl. The fire senshi was in Sailor Pluto�s debt for the woman�s actions. Without the senshi of time, Sailor Mars� only love could have been hurt or even killed.
�Rei�� Sailor Moon sighed, giving in to her bodyguard�s loving embrace.
Sailor Mars rested her head on her princesses� shoulder. She heard footsteps coming closer, probably the night-shift hospital staff. They would all have to detransform soon. The fire senshi hoped Sailor Pluto was all right. She had a rather large �thank you� to give the guardian of time.
******
Sailor Pluto desperately swung her staff at a crossbow bolt, causing the projectile to ricochet off the metal pole and fly across the room. Blood was seeping from Pluto�s multiple stab wounds and gashes, but she would still live. For now. However, the senshi of time knew that the mortal blow was coming soon and that she wouldn�t be fast enough to prevent it.
Sailor Pluto whirled around and dropped into a crouch, sweeping at the legs of an assassin armed with a dagger with her time staff. The youma leapt over the staff and brought its knife downwards with both hands, trying to impale the woman�s head. Pluto swiftly stabbed upwards with her staff, catching the assassin in the throat hard and crushing its windpipe. She stood up and slammed the lower end of her staff in the youma�s side, hearing the crack of ribs.
The guardian of time turned around as fast as she could, flicking a throwing knife out of its killer path with her staff. She followed the move by jamming the butt of her pole weapon in the stomach of the youma behind her, causing the fatally wounded creature to collapse into a ball on the floor.
Sailor Pluto saw that the assassin with the crossbows had abandoned its two weapons, apparently out of ammo. The youma darted into a shadow and vanished in a cloud of black mist.
Here it comes
The other youma assassin pulled out three throwing knives in each hand and threw all six blades at the doomed senshi, the yellow streetlight reflecting off the polished metal. Sailor Pluto let out a defiant cry and moved as gracefully and quickly as she could in her wounded state, forcing all of the knives away from her in six perfect strokes with her time staff. She could sense the other assassin behind her, its long notched dagger about to plunge into her back and scrape her heart, spelling death for the senshi of time. Pluto could almost feel the cold steel slip under her skin and deep into her flesh, her life spilling in red torrents to the floor. The eldest senshi spun around to try and stop the finishing stab, knowing that her efforts were useless. She wouldn�t be fast enough. Sailor Pluto had already foreseen this happening.
�CRESCENT BEAM!�
The youma assassin howled in torment as its hand was severed at the wrist, its fist rolling along the floor still holding on to the notched dagger. Sailor Pluto�s and the knife throwing youma�s heads turned towards the guardian of time�s saviour, the person who had dragged the woman away from the jaws of death. Pluto blinked at Sailor Venus standing in the dead scream hole in the wall. So this was how things turned out. Sailor Pluto had begun to think that a senshi wouldn�t ever come to her aid, but here one was, and it was Venus.
The senshi of love winked at Pluto. �Never fear, V-babe�s here!� she cried out enthusiastically.
The one-handed youma continued to scream in excruciating pain, staring at the charred stump where its hand used to be. Sailor Pluto used the last of her depleting strength to smash the stunned assassin in the side of the head with her time staff. The youma�s skull caved in, drenching the garnet orb in bloody black gore and sending brain matter and bone shards into the air like confetti.
Sailor Pluto fell to her knees, her grip sliding down her time staff. Her eyes went to Sailor Venus. The remaining youma assassin threw a knife at the blonde girl, causing the senshi to nimbly dodge to the side. She glanced at Pluto�s heavily wounded form then back at the assassin, ready to give it some payback.
�LOVE ME CHAIN!�
The youma threw another spinning blade at Sailor Venus, but the senshi of love lashed out with her energy beam of hearts, snagging the blade out of its flight path and holding it on the end of the heart whip. Venus then brutally cracked her chain, letting the knife end rip into the youma and tear open its neck, cutting the artery in an obscene display of showering black blood. The creature clutched at its neck and fell backwards to the floor, its life pumping out from between its fingers. It wouldn�t get up again.
Sailor Pluto lowered her head in relief, putting all of her weight on her staff as she knelt on the floor. Sailor Venus ran to the guardian of time�s side, reaching out a hand but then pulling it back, afraid to touch the terribly hurt senshi.
�Don�t worry, Setsuna,� Venus said with concern in her tone, �I�ll call an ambulance. Maybe you can stay in the same hospital Michiru and Haruka are at.� She finished with a slight grin.
�No� time,� Pluto replied, smiling somewhat at the reference, �for that right now. Hotaru and Chibi-Usa, upstairs� they need help�� She rested her forehead against her time staff and took deep breaths.
Sailor Venus hesitated for a second then got to her feet. �Okay, but you better still be breathing when I come back,� she ordered, �don�t make me have to punish you in the name of Venus!� The blonde gave a rather strained, playful smile down at the guardian of time.
�We can�t have that�� murmured Pluto.
Venus nodded in satisfaction and hurried up the stairs.
******
�SILENCE WALL!�
Sailor Saturn held her glaive horizontally over her head with both hands, forming a force field around her and Sailor Chibi Moon. The female youma assassin�s poison dagger slash and the volley of throwing knives deflected off the invisible wall. Both the youma melted into the shadows again and reformed in different spots around the room.
The fight had gone on for some time and Saturn was getting tired. She only had her silence glaive to fight with, since her other attacks would likely kill her and Chibi Moon, and perhaps even Sailor Pluto downstairs. Having only a close combat weapon was a serious disadvantage. Sailor Saturn was sure she could maybe rush the knife throwing youma, but that would leave Sailor Chibi Moon open for attack by the other youma, and the senshi of death couldn�t let the pink-haired girl get hurt.
The silence wall dropped and another throwing knife flashed towards Saturn�s head. The girl whipped around and bashed the flying blade with her glaive, stopping the projectile. Sailor Saturn couldn�t keep this up forever, and Chibi Moon had no useful powers to help in the fight.
Saturn twirled her deadly weapon in her grasp and blocked a wide swipe from the female assassin. One hit with that knife and the pale girl would be history for sure.
�PINK SUGAR HEART ATTACK!�
Sailor Saturn glanced behind her and saw that Sailor Chibi Moon had fired a barrage of hearts into the knife throwing assassin�s eyes, temporarily blinding it. Maybe Saturn�s best friend did have a useful power after all.
Saturn gasped as the female youma darted past her glaive and stabbed at her neck. The senshi of death tripped and fell backwards onto the floor, trying to avoid the killing blow. The assassin raised her knife and lunged downwards at the prone Sailor Saturn. The girl�s eyes widened in fear.
�Hotaru!� Sailor Chibi Moon cried, and dived into the youma assassin, pushing the creature away from her best friend.
The female assassin recovered swiftly and smashed the bottom of her dagger on the back of Chibi Moon�s head, knocking the girl unconscious. She picked up the pink-haired girl and ran towards the window.
�Noooo!! Let her go!!� Sailor Saturn yelled, using her silence glaive to stand up.
The youma ignored the senshi of death�s heartfelt cry and leapt through the window, breaking through the glass and disappearing from sight.
�NO!� Saturn screamed again.
Sailor Saturn ran towards the window and watched in horror as the assassin darted nimbly across the street with the pale girl�s best friend in her grasp. This couldn�t be happening. Tears began to form in the senshi of death�s lilac eyes.
Sailor Saturn heard a sound from the youma that was left behind. Without thinking Saturn twisted around and ripped upwards with her silence glaive, gutting the assassin from groin to throat, its insides dropping to the floor in a sickening display as black blood splattering high to hit the ceiling. Saturn spun completely around and chopped at the creature�s throat, half severing its head. The youma�s head hung backwards by a shred of flesh, black liquid spilling out from seemingly everywhere. Mercifully, the assassin�s life was snuffed out quickly, and it fell to the floor in a quivering heap beside the pile of its own internal organs.
�Hotaru?� an uneasy voice said from the doorway to her bedroom.
Sailor Saturn looked up from the grisly corpse to see Sailor Venus standing at the entrance of her room. Saturn�s bottom lip shook and she let her silence glaive drop to the floor with a heavy clatter. More tears poured down her pale, black blood covered, cheeks, creating trails in the blood. She simply stood there, her arms by her sides.
�Sh-she took h-her,� Saturn sobbed, her chest heaving, �she took Chibi-Usa!!�
Part twenty-eight |
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