'Sacrifices':  A Sailor Moon FanFic


Author's Note

After some hesitation, I've finally decided to post the prologue to
'Sacrifices' on this list, as was suggested to me by a reader many 
moons ago (no pun intended).  

It's arguable whether 'Sacrifices' is a story or not; in the true sense
of the word 'story'.  One might suggest that it's no more than a series 
of overly detailed scenes loosely roped together by the themes of loss,
sorrow, and death.  

But perhaps that's all a story really is.  I don't know, and may never 
yet know.  What I *do* know, however, is that it was more an 'experiment' 
than anything else; a way to test the extent of my somewhat limited 
ability as a writer.  Without reservation, I submerged myself into the
fanfic, exploring what might have been best left alone.

The result:  such a mixture of style, form, and idea that I can only liken
it to a saw-tooth blade; jagged and sharp, cutting this way and that for
no apparent reason.  Chaos and confusion.

A mistake?  Perhaps.  But, if so, than I hope it was a successful mistake.
(The ones that provide us with experience and knowledge).

If this fanfic has, in some way, already been dealt with on this list,
than I apologize.  If not, then I would greatly appreciate your 
comments.

Regards,


Rav Dhiraj.
rdhiraj@sfu.ca

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sac-ri-fice         to suffer loss, give up, renounce, injure or destroy   
          		  especially for an ideal, belief, or end.

- Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (Tenth Edition).

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              	 Sacrifices : A Prologue

				Chapter 1


     The moon revolved gently about her axis.  Invisible beams of sunlight
illuminated her surface with a ghostly radiance, highlighting the ravines,
and craters, and hollow spaces.  Alone, she spun through the darkness
between Heaven and Earth; caught between desire and duty.  Alone.


                  	 *    *    *


	A thin sheet of rain draped the city of Tokyo with a translucent
curtain; pouring forth from black clouds set low in the sky.  The night
streets were lit with the sparks and sounds of human invention.  Grey
structures rose from these streets at irregular intervals and, like
oversized fountains, spilled their unnatural radiance into the night sky. 
The air was thick with their diffused light.  
     In this rosy haze, the Tokyo tower jutted up silently over it's city. 
Accustomed as it was to the solitude of night, the tower shifted uneasily at
the presence of the strangers it bore.  Amid the metal girders, upon a
guardless platform close to its summit, five figures crouched amongst the
cris-crossing shadows.  Four huddled together in the centre.  One apart,
close to the edge of the platform, where the wind-swept rain could drench
her slender form.  With arms wrapped about her legs and cheek resting upon
her knees, she sat silently, staring at the clouds, tracing the path that
the moon would take that night.  Two blond ribbons of hair encircled her
form in the crude shape of an alpha-helix, whipped by the wind and then
plastered there by the relentless rain.  Her eyes glistened with unshed
tears.


     Whispers rose among the huddled four.  A head shook.
     "...never seen her like this before."
     Movement in the shadows.  A fist striking the platform.
     "What's she waiting for?"
     A head turned, raven-black hair spilling about a pale shoulder.
     "She's out of line.  This is crazy!"
     A calming hand placed upon the shoulder.
     "She has good reason Rei."
     "I can't believe that you're actually siding with her.  We shouldn't
be here!"
     The fist that had struck the platform clenched into a tighter ball.
     "I for one am ready for this."
     "I think that we all have to be ready.  She *is* after all our
leader."
     The black hair whipped around. 
     "Thank you very much for reminding us Miss Computer Genius.  As if
*she* needs to be reminded."
     The hand upon her shoulder tightened its grip.
     "That's enough Rei.  You know what happened, and why she's doing
this."  The beautiful voice dropped lower.  "Don't make it any harder for
her."
     "I know what happened, Mina.  But that doesn't change anything." She
punctuated the remark with a slice of her hand.  "We all cried with her till
our hearts were dry when we heard the news.  But this is too much."
     The tallest among the four rose onto her haunches, fists still
clenched.
     "Do you suggest that we leave this unavenged?"
     The head lowered in reply, hair forming a black pool upon the
platform.
     "No.  I...I...just...have a bad feeling about this."
     The hand left her shoulder and gently clasped her forearm.
     "She needs us.  That's what we're here for.  For her."
     Silence.


     The lone figure ignored the whispers.  Her attention had focused
instead upon an old apartment building that squatted in the distance below. 
Rainwater ran down her pale face, blurring her vision.  Cold wind washed
over her, sweeping her mind away...

     "...Hey Serena, is that you?  It is!  We've been looking for you
everywhere.  Mom and Dad were *so* worried!  It's so late."
     "Sammy...?"
     "I'd never have expected to find you here, lying alone in the middle
of the park.  Are you alright?"
     "I'm...fine Sammy.  I'm...sorry."
     "That's alright.  It was kind of fun seeing Mom and Dad blow a fuse at
the same time...Hey!  You've been crying!"
     "No...I haven't."
     "I know you sister.  Um, what's the matter?"
     "Nothing.  See, I'm smiling.  Let's just go home, ok?"
     "Serena.  I may be young, but I'm not stupid.  I've seen you wail in
front of crowds, but for you to cry here alone...something must be terribly
wrong."
     "Huh..."
     "I may not always show it sis', but I do care for you.  I won't stand
by and let you get hurt."
     "Sammy?"
     "It's him, isn't it?"
     "Him...?"
     "Darien."
     "Oh..."
     "What's he done to you this time.  That creep!  I swear, I'll get him
for hurting you like this.  I don't care if he's older than me!"
     "No! Sammy, wait!"
     "Don't stop me Serena.  A brother's got to protect his sister, you
know."
     "No...stop.  You can't do this. Please!"
     "Huh?"
     "You...can't...hurt...him!"
     "Wha-?  You don't mean that Serena.  Not after what he's done to you."
     "Please understand.  I do mean it...with all my heart.  I love him."
     "But-"
     "No Sammy, listen to me.  These are tears of joy...of memory.  They
remind me of how much it hurts to be apart from him.  They show me that I
still do love him.  They are precious to me.  I can't lose them.  I can't
lose him.  The greater my pain, the...stronger...my...love..."
     "Oh.  Serena, please don't cry.  I won't hurt him if you don't want me
to.  I'll even stop hating him.  Just don't cry...please."
     "Hm.  I won't.  Lets go home, and Sammy..."
     "Yeah?"
     "...Thank you."
     "Uh, no problem.  By the way..."
     "Yes?"
     "...you're still a ditz."
     "Huh...?"
          
     ...Tears streaming down her cheeks, Serena pressed her brow against
her knees.  But the memories kept drawing her away...

     "...It's so beautiful here in the park, isn't it.  I've always loved
the moonlight."
     "Yeah, but I can't wait to get back home sis'.  Mom and Dad would be
glad to see you.  Besides, it's kind of creepy out here alone."
     "You can never be hurt or alone under the moon's protection my
paranoid little brother."
     "Hey!  Don't get all spacey on me Serena.  And I'm serious.  I've got
this weird feeling...what was that?"
     "What?  Hmm?"
     "I thought I heard something.  There!  In those shadows."
     "Oh, Sammy.  It's probably just a late stroller taking a walk in the
park.  I mean, with it being so beautiful here, I'm surprised that the whole
city isn't meandering through this silver wonderland.  Dancing and singing
in the moonlight..."
     "Serena, be quiet!  I think there's more than one person.  Why do I
get the feeling that they're all staring at us?  Serena..."
     "What?"
     "...Serena..."
     "What!"
     "...I'm afraid."
     "Don't be so foolish.  Besides, for reasons that I cannot explain,
with me beside you, you're the safest person in..."

     ...Serena's head whipped back as the thunderous memory of the gunshot
tore through her mind.  Rain-water, salted with tears, sprang away from her
face and sparkled diamond-like into her lap.  Her hair lay lifelessly
against her body.  She had no strength to bar the flood of memory...

     "...Sammy...Sammy...no.  NOOOOOO!"
     "Ha!  It was worth it just to hear her scream.  And such a pretty
voice too."
     "Are you going to kill her as well?"
     "And end that beautiful sound?  I think not.  She'll be screaming for
quite a while yet, and I for one intend to relish that *sweet* Music."
     "You're sick man.  But hey, whatever you want.  This is your gig.  Its
got nothing to do with me."
     "Sick! Me?  You haven't seen the half of it.  She'll be some sport
yet!  By the way, you're right.  This has nothing to do with you, so take
off!"
     "Like I care.  I'm outta here!"
     "Tell the rest that I'll be in late.  Heh.  Huh?  She stopped!  Damn-"
     "...why...?"
     "What?"
     "I SAID WHY!"
     "You've got a lot of nerve, Lady.  But I'll indulge you for now. 
Consider it a...um...last request, shall we say?  Simply put, the answer to
your question is bad luck.  Wrong time, wrong place.  That's life.  I've got
this thing about nights like these, you see.  The artistic side of me comes
out.  I'm in my element.  I've always loved the moonlight."
     "No! No...no...she's supposed to protect me...protect Sammy."
     "Sammy?  Hm, that's a nice name.  Well he's dead.  Isn't life unfair? 
I mean, in a minute you'd give anything to trade places with him.  When I'm
done with you...AIEEEEE!!!  Stupid cat!  You've probably infected me with
rabies or something.  I hate cats!  I'll kill the furrba-huh? What's that?"
     "SERENA.  SERENA DEAR.  SAMMY.  WHERE ARE YOU.  Hurry up, I think I
heard something over there!"
     "...mom...dad..."
     "Damn!  Life *is* unfair.  Well I'll be seeing you around, girl.  We
will meet again.  Don't call me, I'll call you, and all that. Ha!"
     "...no..."
     "Serena?  Serena!  It's Luna.  Look at me.  Are you..."

     "...all right?" 
     Serena's eyes leapt open and, heart pounding, she drew back, arms
instinctively crossed before herself in defence.  Her mouth gaped open as
she stared blankly at the face.  She tried to speak; to escape the grip of
fear that had clenched her heart; to recognize the face in front of her.  It
took a moment of absolute mind-numbing terror for Memory to draw back into
its shadowed corner.  Like a splash of cold water on a winter's morn, her
senses returned.  She smelt once again the rain-scented night air.  She
heard once more the faint rumble of the city below.  She felt the cold steel
of the platform supporting her.  She recognized the face, deeply etched with
concern.  Serena turned away, arms falling limply to her sides.  She ignored
the familiar way that the wind tossed the short blue curls encompassing that
face.  She steeled her heart against the pain.
     "I'm...fine.  Tell the others that it's time."
     A slender arm reached out for her gently.
     "But-"
     A flash of brilliant white light.  Sailor Moon recoiled from the
grasp.
     "I won't ask you again!  Do it or don't.  I don't care either way." 
The lie left her mouth bitter.  Gritting her teeth, she rose and stepped to
the edge of the platform, facing away from the others.  Behind her,
footsteps receded into the distant darkness.


     The three crouched figures raised their heads together at the sound of
approaching footsteps.  The gentle tapping stopped.  The Messenger's soft
voice replaced the silence.
     "She is ready."
     The tallest of the three was on her feet before the last word was
uttered.  Dark auburn hair flashed and danced to the sound of distant
thunder.  Her breathing was shallow.  Her limbs quivered.  The shadows
painted long tapering stripes across her lithe form.  She trembled in
anticipation.  
     With practiced ease, a second figure leapt nimbly to her feet.  She
even flourished an elaborate bow to an unresponsive audience.
     "Alright girls, this is it.  Lets get this done and go home.  I think
we could all use a good nights rest."  
     Silence.  She smiled. 
     "Hey, it'll be a piece of cake, so don't worry.  We'll get through
this.  Are we all ready?"  
     Her gaze passed over the two beside her, and fixed upon the only one
of them still seated.  She frowned.  Rei was staring at the Messenger, who
held her blue-haired head low, and was unconsciously wringing her hands in
apparent misery.  Raven hair swung from side to side as the spiritualist
rose.  She gathered Ami into her arms.
     "What's wrong?"  Her voice was gentle.   
     Blue hair pressed against her cheek as she was hugged back, hard.  The
figure then removed herself from Rei's arms and smiled weakly.
     "Nothing. It's ok.  Lets do this."
     "Right!"  
     In a flash of crimson flame Mars stepped forward, cleansed.  Her voice
rang out clearly.
     "Hey Rabbit!  This is quite a surprise.  You leading us into a
dangerous situation?  Can it be possible?"  She shook her head in mock
wonder.  
     Gasps arose from behind her, and three hands grasped her senshi suit
simultaneously.  The War-child shrugged them off easily.  After all they
were still just Lita, Mina, and Ami.  Fire coursed through her veins.  She
*was* fire.
     Startled, the victim of her taunt twisted about.  One ribbon of hair
swung around and crossed her breast.  
     "Rei!"  
     Mars ignored the voice from behind.  Fire in her blood; fire in her
heart.
     "You usually trail along behind...until one of us shoves you up
ahead."  She mimicked the motion with her arms, a smile playing across her
lips.
     Sailor Moon stared at her silently for a moment.  When she finally
spoke, her voice was unusually low.
     "Don't start with me Mars.  I have no time for this."
     Fire in her blood; fire in her heart; fire in her throat.
     "Oh!  Then I humbly apologize o' mighty leader, who has sat here for a
freakin' hour doing absolutely *nothing*!  I beg your forgiveness o'
mistress of punctuality!  Shall I now bow down and bask in the radiance of
your wise leadership?"
     Sailor Moon's eyes grew dull.  Yet when she spoke, she wielded her
words like sharpened knives.
     "Don't you EVER forget that I *am* the leader of the Scouts.  That
includes *you*."  Her head twisted stiffly.  
     "All of you."  She turned away from them, fists quivering.  
     "Do as I say, or don't bother following..."  The last word left her
lips as she leapt off the platform.  She rose into the air and, for a brief
second, hung there, suspended between Heaven and Earth.  Her hair arced out
wing-like to either side, and then darted up as she descended rapidly out of
sight.  
     Mars stepped back, face flushed.
     "I don't believe it.  That arrogant twit!  How dare she...."  Her
voice quivered with outrage.
     An auburn pony-tail swished from side to side.
     "What's up with her?  We came when she called.  We were ready to do
this!  Why'd she have to go mouthing us off?"
     Wavy blond tresses shook uneasily.
     "She's acting strange.  Maybe you're right Mars.  Maybe this
leadership thing has gone to her head..."
     "Of course I'm right!  Didn't you notice?  Her head's twice the size
it used to be.  Not that it wasn't big enough before!"
     "We deserve better from her Mina.  She needs to be straightened out."
     "True, but-"
     "What she needs is a good whacking in the rump.  That should reduce
the swelling of her ego."
     "You guys are right.  We shouldn't have let her take it this far."
     "Yeah!"
     "Right!..."
     "ENOUGH!"
     A sudden flash of clear aqua light sent the cris-crossing shadows
about them scurrying for cover.  For a brief second the platform seemed
alike to a shallow ocean floor, patterned by beams of sunlight filtering
through crystal water.
     "Stop it!  All of you, stop it now."
     Silence descended immediately.  Three extremely surprised faces turned
towards Mercury.  She was not the tallest of the four.  Yet at that moment,
she seemed to tower over them in her fury.
     "I cannot believe that you are doing this.  Do you not understand her
yet?  After all this time?"  Her voice pinned them where they stood.
     "She was never arrogant, nor has she become so overnight.  She is
doing this for a reason.  The whole plan was her idea.  This is not Scout
business.  It is Serena business.  And she is making sure that it stays that
way."  Her voice faltered, and a deep sigh escaped her lips.  
     "Don't you remember that terrible night at the hospital?  Don't you
remember Serena pleading with her parents to blame her for what had
happened?  Instead, her mother blamed herself for sending him out alone that
night.  Her father, for not being there sooner, and for not being able to do
anything after.  And all through this, Serena was on her knees begging them
to hold her responsible for it.  They would not listen to her.  *We* would
not listen to her."  
     All the anger drizzled out of Mercury, and it was a tired soft-spoken
teenager who lifted her voice now; hidden deep beneath the folds of her
senshi armour.
     "She will not let it happen again.  This night is her's alone.  By
design.  If anything goes wrong, she wants it to be *her* fault.  *Her*
responsibility."  She bowed her head.  "And that is why I am so afraid for
her.  If something *does* go wrong...."  She left the words unsaid, teeth
clenching in frustration.
     The other three stood in stunned silence.  One staring at Mercury in
awe; one smiling faintly, cheeks flushed; the third gazing down at the
platform, opal eyes glittering in the shadows of her face.  For a moment on
one moved or spoke a word.  Then a whisper.
     "She needs us.  Let's go."  Mars strode to the edge of the platform
and turned her head back.  
     "Well?"  She was trying hard not to smile.
     A sunset flash of orange, beautiful to look upon, was her reply. 
*Venus*.  That, and a pulse of emerald light that carried with it the scent
of woodlands.  *Jupiter*.  The three remaining Scouts joined Mars at the
platform's edge.  
     They stood together, looking out over Tokyo city.  A cool wind washed
over them, and they accepted the city's blessing.  Sharing a quiet glance,
they leapt away from the sanctuary of Tokyo Tower, eager Jupiter in their
lead...


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So ends the first part of the prologue to 'Sacrifices'
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