Hi, I'm posting this for my friend, Lunari.  C&C is very welcome.  :)

Sincerely,

Megane 6.7


Torn: A tale of Tuxedo Mask
By Lunari



        It wasn't as if the night were screaming.  

        No, just because the day had died with the sun's light and
darkness has encompassed the sky didn't mean that the world was
recoiling in vocal tones.  No, the night itself couldn't utter a cry, no
words could be formed in the black shadows or chill breezes left to
haunt the city without the sun's protection.  No, there was no way the
night could scream.

        But I could.

        In my whole life, well, all of it that I remembered, I'd never
screamed.  Yelled, called, and even cried but not a scream.  But my lips
peeled back over my teeth and a shrieking noise split my throat, tearing
my vocal chords until they might burst.  My face scrunched, my muscles
tensed, my ears rang with the scream as if my entire body had given
itself over to the act.

        Then my lungs emptied and the shrill waned until the only noise 
audible from my mouth were strangled gasps punctuated by dry sobs.  
I opened and closed my eyes, again and again.  But still the image 
lingers.  Like fire burned into my retinas, she is there, reaching, 
screaming, dying.  It was her cry that ripped from my throat, and her 
pain I feel digging into my body. 

        "Who ... are ... you ..?" I gulp, pressing my knuckles against
my eyes.  "Why are you in pain?  Why do you need me?"  I open my eyes, 
my heartbeat thumping in my ears.  "And why do I love you?"

        I've always had nightmares, this one should be no different.  I 
should be used to waking up in the middle of any night, horrors beyond 
horrors plaguing my thoughts.  That's what the shrinks said.  Lose your 
family in a car accident at five, yeah.  I might experience some post 
trauma shock.

        But after fifteen years?

        These dreams are different.  They've been popping up out of 
nowhere, even during the day.  I see a 

        ... princess ...  

and she's calling to me, begging me to help her.  Then I'm fighting 
beside a 

        ... senshi ... 

        and she calls me Tuxedo Mask.  I have super powers like in the 
comic books and together we fight to right wrongs and triumph over 
evil or something like that.  

        I began blacking out for no reason some time last month, and 
wake up back at home with no memory of what happened over the last 
hour.  And every time it happens, that Tuxedo Mask guy is spotted 
while I'm out of it.

        Am I Tuxedo Mask? I wondered.

        Yesterday, all was confirmed.  I dreamt of the princess again,
and she told me to find the seven rainbow crystals.  She told me that
when I put them together she would be freed and we could be together.  
She was in such pain, such sadness, I couldn't help but think about it
all that day.  I couldn't talk to Raye or Andrew or anyone, she was 
constantly in my mind.  

        Then, I felt the call.  There's a sudden pull and I black out. 
But now, I remember what happens after that.  I am Tuxedo Mask, 
guardian of Sailor Moon and defender of the 

        ... Moon Kingdom ... 

Sailor Moon is about to be destroyed by the most recent 

        ... Crystal Carrier ...

and I rescue her before she's harmed.  I fight this monster and steal 

        ... the rainbow crystal ...

 from Zoicite, boy was she mad when she saw I'd found it first, but the 
general had the other crystal and I couldn't get it back from her.  

        In the fight I lose something, I don't quite remember what it
is, but it was very important to me, I think.  I don't know why I don't 
return to search for it, I guess I think whoever has it is a better
owner 

        ... the rightful owner ...

Then, as I examine the crystal I transform back into Darien, and I 
realize everything that has been happening, the blackouts and the 
dreams, makes sense.

        Now, nothing makes sense.

        I'm being pulled again.  Sailor Moon is in danger and needs my 
help.  I try to fight back the blackness, the inevitable transformation, 
and I see my princess screaming, crying ... dying.

        "Why?!" I scream at the window as a quarter moon stares back 
at me.  "Why me?  Why do you need me?  Who am I supposed to save? 
Who are you?"  

        I transform against my will, ribbons of swirling energy
dissipating my body and replacing it with Tuxedo Mask.  I climb to the
top of my apartment building before I even think otherwise.  It's very
dark tonight but I feel at peace in the darkness, in the mystery that
shrouds my face and my life.  I don't leap across the rooftops as much
as fly over them.  

        I feel a pounding in my heart for the youngling senshi I rescue
on a regular basis.  Perhaps she is working for the princess as well. 
If so, then we are on the same side opposite the 

        ... evil... 

that is trying to claim the crystals.  And if all this is so, I won't
have to compete with the one I've sworn to protect for the one who I've
sworn to help.

        I hear a woman scream.

        "Princess!" I cry, stumbling in mid-stride.  My knee hits the 
gravel-covered rooftop, miraculously untorn.  I hear gunshots, four in 
rapid succession.  I'm already on my feet as the first shots are
answered with two more.  I'm running, falling, flying as fast as I can
until I reach the street level and duck into the alley the shots came
from.

        Three more gunshots fire and lights flash in my eyes.  I hear
the gunning of an engine and leap out of the way of the oncoming car 
screeching out of the alley.  My shoulder bangs against brick as the 
exhaust billows up into my face.  I bring my cape up to my mouth and 
after a few moments my eyes clear.

        I see blood.

        There is a body lying across from me, fresh crimson catching the 
moonlight on his chest.  I run over to him and tear open his 
multicolored shirt to reveal two gunshot wounds, one in his shoulder, 
the other to the left of his stomach.  He opens his eyes and starts to 
babble something but his words are slurred with shock.

        "Its okay," I tell him, tearing off part of his shirt and
pressing it against the wound in his stomach.  I follow suit for the
shoulder wound.  His blood stains my gloves.  

        The man is still muttering something when I feel the call again.
This time, it's pulling me, urging me to action, to the aid of Sailor 
Moon and the quest of my princess.  In my mind I see the image of the 
princess sobbing, begging for my help.

        "No!" I cry out suddenly, my voice piercing the night.  "I will
not leave this man to die!"  

        I pull the man into my arms, lifting him and myself into the
sky.  I run hard and fast, the sound of my breath ragged in my throat,
the night flying past me in dark streaks.  The man has stopped talking 
and I feel fear grip my heart.  

        "Hang in there," I tell him, leaping over the gap between two 
buildings.  

        The princess calls for me again and I stumble.  The man in my 
arms gives a sharp cry of pain as I fall to my knees.  I close my eyes, 
trying to summon the strength to continue.  The princess is frantic 
now, tears streaking her face.

        I scream.

        I don't know what I'm screaming.

        The muscles in my legs are on fire, pain in my shoulders and 
arms, my entire body collapsing against my will.  Sweat dripping 
under my mask stings my eyes, keeping me from seeing in the night.  
But there, there I see the lights of the hospital.  Just in my reach ... 

        Then I am yanked as if tethered around the neck.  I nearly fall 
from the parking garage roof as dizziness sweeps my body.  I feel 
cold, crystal claws gripping at my heart and the princess 

        ... her tears have turned to blood ...

My feet hit the ground, followed by my knees.  I can't see, there are 
tears in my eyes.  I can't move, can't fight.  She is controlling me.  I 
tremble, knowing I've failed them both.

        Then I hear a distant footfall followed by a cry for help.  I
look up to see a group men running towards me, wearing the uniform green
of hospital personnel.

        "Help him," I croak.  "He's been shot."

        I barely see the men as they take the wounded man from my arms 
and lay him on a stretcher.  And they barely notice me as I leave, 
running swiftly and then flying towards the call of my princess.

        I don't notice until I've reached the park that the pull has
faded to nothingness.  I see Sailor Moon and the 

        ... other scouts ...

and a young man on the ground.  I sense Zoicite was there a moment 
ago, but her presence is clearly gone from the area.  And then I see
the third crystal.

        Sailor Moon holds it in her gloved hands, it's golden light 
reflecting off her young face.  I can't help but notice how beautiful
she is.  But rage builds inside me as my loyalties are torn asunder.

        I want to take the crystal from her for my princess.  But I
can't dare bring myself to even move a foot towards the girl I've saved
many times before.  I stop and close my eyes, listening for any call,
any pull, any words of direction that I had so recently refused to heed.

        I hear nothing.     

        They don't notice me as I slip back into the darkness.  My
loyalties and actions are unclear and not to be trusted, I surmise.  The
crystal is safest with Sailor Moon, for now.  Besides, how could I ever
attempt to take it from her?

        I notice that, even though the crisis has been dealt with, I am
still Tuxedo Mask.  I count it as a blessing since I would never have
enough money for cab fare.  I mount the rooftops once more towards home.
I find myself straying back to the alley I left only a few minutes ago.
There are still bloodstains marking the ground as well as skid marks 
where the mysterious vehicle pealed out in escape.

        I cock my head to one side as I examine the ground.  Whoever 
shot at the man I rescued left in the car, but there was an exchange of 
gunshots and a woman's scream.  I didn't recall seeing a firearm on the 
man's person and I begin to search around the alleyway for the other
gun.

        I find it clutched in the hand of a corpse.

        She hasn't been dead for very long, probably died only a few 
moments ago.  There are bullet holes in the leg of her jeans and the 
leather of her coat.  Blood is on her face, splashed from her mouth 
after she screamed.  Her eyes are open and cold, staring into the night 
sky that abandoned her to her death.

        I'm crying.  

        "Forgive me," I whisper to her body, my head bowed as my back 
trembles.  "I should have saved you, too."

        I see my princess.  My love.

        I see Sailor Moon.  My oath.

        I see the man.  My honor.

        I see this woman.  My failure.

        My hand drops a rose over her chest and I give a bow before
rising.  In the distance I hear the wail of police sirens but I'm gone
before they even arrive.  I return to my apartment, the Tuxedo Mask body
melting away in shimmers of golden light.  I stop before climbing
through my window and look to the night sky.  My eyes settle on the
moon.

        I am a sworn protector and guardian of someone.  I don't know 
who.  I have a bond to the princess in my dreams.  I don't know how.  I 
have a responsibility to Sailor Moon.  I don't know why.

        There are too many questions and too few answers.  

        Story of my life.  


End
C&C Welcome Lunari@Sprynet.com