Well here's chapter three. I hope you enjoy. As always, please C&C. I feed
off of it.
TW.
SailorMoon S.
Someone to watch over me.
Chapter Three.
Ami woke up in Usagi's bed. Luna was setting near her on the bed
while Chiba Usa was looking out the window at the sky. Slowly she sat up,
her knees coming to rest in front of her face as she wrapped her arms around
her legs. Luna walked over and sat down beside her.
"How are you feeling?"
"I feel sick." Was all the short-haired girl could reply. Luna's
heart went out to her as she listened to the sorrow ring hollow within the
young girls voice.
Usagi walked in wearing a bathrobe and drying her hair with a white
towel. When she noticed that Ami was awake, she walked over and sat down
beside her. The two stared at each other for a long time, their eyes
conveying far more than words. Finally Usagi broke the silence between
them.
"Don't worry, We'll get him back. I promise." The usual
ever-present cheerfulness in Usagi's voice was gone. Her words were solemn
and spoken in a matter of fact tone. She stood up and finished drying off
then began to get dressed. Ami stared out the window as Chiba Usa helped
her mother braid her hair. When they were done, the three left for the
Hikawa shrine.
The message was not long in it's coming. They didn't know what it
was written in but it was scrawled crudely in Hiragana on what was left of
the missing scrap of Eric's jacket. It was simple, strait, and to the
point.
"Pier 56, Warehouse #1823. 11:00 p.m." Rei read the note again. The
others were all there now along with Artemis and Luna. She tossed the note
onto the table and looked at Usagi then to the cats. "Well, what do we do
now?"
"We go in." The pigtailed blonde replied quietly.
Hark looked at Usagi as did several of the other girls. "So that's
it, we just give in? We don't have the grail. Heck we don't even know were
to begin to look!" The statuesque blonde raised her arms in exasperation as
Artemis stepped forward.
"She's right." The girls all turned and look at the white cat as he
continued. "If we want to get Eric back we have no choice but to go to the
warehouse tonight. But we don't have to all come in through the front door.
Haruka, you and Michiru will hold back and come in from the side. Chiba Usa,
Luna and I will come in from the other. Tomoe is expecting the inner scouts
but I doubt he's expecting any of the rest of us.
"Why are you and Luna coming?" Minako asked curiously.
"Because," Luna began. "I noticed something odd about him when we
first met and I want to check into it further. He set off the same sense
that alerted me to Usagi and the rest of you but much fainter.
"Do you think he's a..." Ami began but didn't have the heart to
finish.
"No. He's not a Daemon. That much we know for sure. Whatever it
is, it's lunar based." Artemis assured her. Ami visibly relaxed.
"When I scanned for Daemons on our first date, I noticed that he
registered on the screen but it was so faint it almost didn't register. I
didn't really think to much about it then..." She closed her eyes and
sighed. Usagi placed her arm around Ami's shoulder and gave her a hug. Ami
smiled weakly as they began to devising their strategy.
The Abandoned warehouse sat at the end of the pier. Burned and
partially collapsed, it resembled a half-decayed corpse rather than a
building. This night however, the shadows hung a little heavier, almost
radiating darkness. The rotting frame was about to become the stage for a
very perverse play.
Tomoe watched from the deep shadows as four figures approached the
building. * Where's the fifth...ah, there she is. * He noticed the missing
Senshi holding back several feet from the building. * So you think you want
to fight to get him back? Very good, very good indeed. * He watched as the
four girls walked up to the charred portal that was once a set of double
doors. He waited until they were a few paces into the room before he made
himself known. "That's far enough." His voice was cold and menacing. "I
want the grail."
"Show us Eric first. Let us know that he's safe." She watched as
Tomoe and Eudial walked into view. Between them, gagged and bound in ropes.
Ami fought back a wave of fear.
"Give us the grail." Tomoe watched as Sailor Moon produced a wooden
box from behind her and held it aloft. He could feel the holy power
radiating from within it. "Your far too trusting my dear." With a snap of
his fingers, three Daemons crawled forth from the shadows around the girls.
"So are you." Came the Pigtailed Blonde's reply as the box slipped
from her hands. As Tomoe watched the wooden box tumbled to the ground with
a clatter, Temple incense spilling onto the ground in a billowing heap.
"Mars Flame Sniper!" A streak of fire flew from Mar's hands and into
the side of the closest Daemon. With a howl the creature dissolved into
nothing. Another made a leap at Mercury only to become impaled on by
several water spikes that erupted from the ground. It turned it's head to
see its tormentor, Sailor Neptune wave her hand and send it back to the
primal darkness from witch it was made. Across the room at the opposite
side Sailor Uranus was preparing to unleash her attack when Tomoe began to
laugh.
"Very good. I would have expected nothing less." He held out his
hand and chuckled. "Here's something that you didn't count on." As he
spoke a dark mass formed above his hand. It swirled and condensed into a
large, daemon egg. With no more than a casual toss, Tomoe threw the egg
onto Eric. It exploded, covering Eric's chest with a thick black mass that
began streaking across his body in streams. Eric writhed as the black veins
covered him, sinking to his knees as he fought against his bonds. The girls
reeled as his restraints gave way under his panicked throws. With a
gurgling cry Eric sank onto the ground and stopped moving. Slowly, he stood
back up, his skin was ashen gray and his eyes glowed a powerful red.
"Kill them." Tomoe ordered.
"Yes, M Master." Came Eric's reply. His voice was hollow sounding
and mechanical. With a lurch he started forwards only to stop shy of the
girls. He stared at them unmoving for several moments. His eyes neither
registered them or the Daemon that was at his side. Tomoe looked at him and
commanded him again.
"I said kill them. Why do you hesitate?"
"I, I do not know-master. I ahhhhhhhhhhhhh." Eric clutched his head
and sank to one knee, half doubled over.
"Enough!" Tomoe waved his hand and the last Daemon leapt at Eric.
A moment later it was dead. Its head lying next to Eric, its body landing
at Tomoe's feet. Eric now stood facing him with an outstretched hand. His
fingers no longer looked like normal fingers but very long claws.
"You got that right." Eric's voice was now several octaves lower
and carried a gravely tone. With a lunge he dove for Tomoe, knocking them
both into the darkness. Eudial broke for the door only to be stopped inches
from freedom as a cinder block streaked from the shadows to connect with the
base of her head. She crumpled to the floor as the block landed beside her,
one corner coated in blood.
"What the," Sailor Venus started. Before she could continue Eric
walked forth from the shadows. In one hand he carried the limp form of
professor Tomoe.
"Uh uh uh. No one leaves until the party's over." He tossed Tomoe
to the ground and slowly began to stalk his way over to the girls. "Who's
next?" He raised an eyebrow as Sailor Moon raised her wand above her head.
"Eric, don't worry. Everything's going to be fine in just a
second." She began her chant.
"You have no idea...kid" Eric sneered and slowly braced his feet.
"Moon Healing Escalation!" The energy swirled around Sailor Moon
and shot out at Eric, slamming home square in the center of his chest. With
a grunt, Eric threw his arms out and tilted his head back. As the beams
slowly dissipated, Eric lowered his head and looked at them with a sadistic
smile on his face.
"Thanks kid, I needed that."
Luna watched Eric intently, trying to put the pieces together. When
his head fell forward, she saw the last piece, the one that made all the
rest fall into place. A crescent shape blazing on his forehead told her
that they where all in very deep trouble. "Oh no, SENSHI, RUN!"
Eric started to growl as his hair rippled and began to grow, turning
black as it slid along his shoulders. With a animalistic cry, his body
expanded, growing to massive proportions in seconds. His arms elongated as
did his legs, muscles rippled across his frame. His face stretched,
becoming distorted and grotesque. The girls watched as rows of razor sharp
fangs gleamed at them through the moon light. Drawing himself up to his new
height, he surveyed his prey. The young man the girls had come to rescue no
longer existed. In his place now was a living breathing nightmare, a thing
straight from their deepest fears capable of devastating carnage. Sailor
Moon took a step back as she stared into the cold, pitiless yellow eyes of a
werewolf. With a low growl, the werewolf exploded into their midst. The
Senshi scattered, barely diving out of the way as his claws sliced through
the air.
Sailor Mercury felt something slam into her gut, knocking her across
the room and into a wall. She felt the air leave her lungs with a gasp as
she sank to the floor. Despite the fire erupting inside her chest she
struggled to get back up. As her vision began to blur she could see the
creature bearing down on Jupiter with a murderous rage.
"Space Sword Blaster!" Sailor Uranus's attack erupted, slamming the
werewolf square in it's chest. He rolled onto the floor and stood back up.
"That hurt...bitch." With a fierce growl he hunkered slightly "My
turn, THUNDER CLAW!" With a slash, streaks of energy raced toward Uranus .
Diving out of the way, she barely avoided the attack as it hit the wall
behind her sending a shower of blaster and debris through the air. As she
landed on the ground. She heard the rock crack against her head. Not even a
second later pain erupted inside her skull sending her into the dark depths
of unconsciousness.
Sailor Mars raced up to Sailor Moon as she came leaping out of the
building. It didn't take long for her to see why. The giant feral
monstrosity thrashed around, fighting all of the sailors at once. Anything
that caught it's eye became fair game for attack. " What the heck is that?"
She asked as Usagi raced back into the building from a different angle.
" Eric!" Was all the Blonde replied as she disappeared through a
door. With no more explanation needed, Rei pulled out a slip of paper and
started to chant. As she closed her eyes she could feel the energy well up
inside her, concentrating on the paper, she never saw Sailor Jupiter's body
fly towards her. The two girls crumpled to the ground in a heap.
Neptune knelt down beside Uranus's prone form. She couldn't tell if
the her beautiful blonde lover was alive or dead. She glanced up at the
creature as it swatted Jupiter away like a limp rag doll. She would make
the creature pay for hurting her beloved, Eric or not it was going to suffer
dearly. But with no warning the creature fell back into a shadow and
disappeared. She began to scan the room, searching for anyplace it could
have gone. Across the room Chiba Usa was helping Ami up off of the ground.
She saw that Sailor Venus was still standing. The Blonde girl was against
the far wall, her eyes darting around nervously. Kneeling down she checked
Uranus for signs of life. Just as her fingers reached Haruka's neck
however, the wall behind Venus exploded in a shower of drywall, plaster and
wood splinters. The Green haired Senshi raised her arms and tried to shield
herself from the debris. She winced as a sliver of wood the length of her
forearm pierced her thigh. As one of her arms lowered in reflex to the
wound, a hunk of plaster ricocheted off of her tiara with a dull "clank".
She tumbled to the ground beside her lover's body. Emerging from the rubble
of the wall the werewolf laughed.
"Surprise!" He turned and slowly started to walk towards his last
two playthings. " And now for you two."
Chibi Usa knelt beside Ami and tried to help the girl stand. Blood
trickled from a gash over her left eye and was making it hard to see out of
it. She looked up at the towering creature before her and whimpered. An
evil sneer crossed it's lips as it stared down at her. She began to shake
as she stood there, watching in wrapped horror as it drew back it's massive
fist.
"Say goodnight little one."
Chibi began to cry. She didn't want to die...but she knew she would
not survive what was about to happen. No one was going to save her. She
closed her eyes and waited.
"Mercury bubble dome!" Cried a hoarse voice. Chibi Usa opened her
eyes to see a bright blue sphere of energy spring from Mercury's hand and
envelope them both a split second before Luperos's fist landed. The pink
haired youngster stared at the fist only an inch from her nose with fright.
With renewed furry the creature began to pound on the dome. "Come on
girls! You can't stop me. You can't stop the power of LUPEROS!" He swung
one last time and the dome flickered then winked out completely. Slowly the
great wolf creature leaned down to Ami until he was but a hair's breadth
from her. " Did you really think you'd stop me little one?" He flexed his
claws and growled.
"No." Ami replied quietly. " I was just the decoy...I'm sorry Eric."
With that Luperos heard the chanting. Whirling around, he saw Sailor Mars.
Beside her Sailor Moon stood, steadying the raven haired priestess. He
charged the two but it was already far to late.
"Akuryou Taisan!" The small paper ward streaked through the air and
slammed into the charging creatures chest. With a horrifying howl Luperos
reared back as his body was ripped apart. Smoke billowed from his eyes and
mouth as slowly Eric's body reverted back to normal. As the last wisps of
smoke trailed into the dark shadows, his body slumped to the floor. Slowly
the four girls gathered beside him. "Your Immune to Moon powers but NOT
holy wards." She said triumphantly.
"Thanks for buying us a little time." Usagi said as she leaned
against Ami.
" Always willing to help." She replied, her tone was serious, her
eyes never leaving Eric's prone form. The four traded weary smiles then
started checking there comrades. Venus was starting to stir, slowly coming
back to life. She was battered, bruised, but none the worse. Michiru was
still out but breathing steady. Haruka however was rolling onto her side
with one hand on her head, moaning. As Chibi Usa helped the blonde up
Sailor Jupiter sat down beside them. Her face was scraped up and one eye
was swollen shut. She smiled weakly at them as they started to help Michiru
back over to Usagi and the others. As they started to walk over to Usagi,
The sound of scrambling feet caught there ears. They looked up to see Eric
backing away from Ami and the others. He turned and ran outside and into the
darkness before anyone could catch him. Ami started to follow but one of
her knees gave out from under her and she sank to the ground.
" I'll follow after him." Artemis said as he streaked off after the
boy. As Ami tried to stand once more, Usagi placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You're in no shape to follow him, none of us are. Let Artey follow
him. He'll be okay." Ami nodded and sat back down as Sailor Moon began her
chant. Within seconds healing energy's swirled around them, seeping into
the wounds and soothing over the hurts. Ami sighed as the waves of energy
caressed away the pain of battle. When it was over though, her heart still
felt heavy.
The creature watched from the nurturing shadows as the sailor senshi
started gathering back together. It was beaten, for now at least. It had
underestimated their strength and their teamwork. It would not do so again.
It watched them as Eric pulled away from them and scurried off into the
night terrified. It could take some pleasure in knowing that the boy would
not easily get over all that he had made him do. But that was unimportant.
What was important right now was recovering it's strength, then plotting
it's revenge. It would take time and patience but time was something the
creature had plenty of...and it could be very patient. *For now scouts. For
now...* it thought.
The next morning Ami woke up in her own bed. She could not remember
exactly when or how she had gotten there but she was there, nestled in her
covers in her favorite flannel Pajamas. The rest of the night however, she
remembered with amazing clarity. She got out of bed and quickly dressed and
raced down stairs. As she passed through the living room She heard her mom
call out from the couch were she sat drinking a cup of coffee and reading
the paper.
"Why the hurry dear?" Ami turned and opened her mouth , a hundred
excuses flying through her mind. She settled on a very vague version of the
truth.
"I'm going over to Eric's."
"Oh really? why so fast? Are you afraid he'll go somewhere if you
don't get there in a hurry?"
"..." Ami didn't know what to say. She couldn't tell her the real
reason but she didn't want to lie and risk getting caught either.
Fortunately her mother provided a way out of her predicament.
" You two had a fight didn't you dear?" She said walking over to
Ami.
" Well, kind of. You see we..." Her mother put her finger to Ami's
lips.
" Shh. it's okay. I don't need to know all the gory details." She
pulled Ami into a hug. " It's okay. Everybody has arguments from time to
time." Ami smiled and let her mom have her moment. inside she thanked
whatever powers that be that granted her a break. " Just remember don't let
it affect how you feel about each other. Never let something as petty as a
simple disagreement ruin a good relationship." Ami nodded.
"Okay Mom." She headed out the door and raced over to Eric's at top
speed. Ami's Mother watched her go, remembering how it was when she was
that age.
* Oh to be young again. *
Ami rang the doorbell for the fifth time, her fear growing with each
passing second. She tried one last time then, reluctantly, she turned to go
home. Head bowed and heart heavy, Ami walked down the pathway to the street
lost deep in thought.
* Maybe I'll stop at Mina's for a few minutes. It's on the way home,
I could use the company too. * She contemplated her options as she reached
the sidewalk.
"Hey there you are! I called earlier but no one answered. I was
going to just wait for you but Teddy here insisted that he be walked with no
arguments." Ami's head snapped up as she heard a voice that sounded like
angels on high to her ears. Teal blue eyes met earthen brown and she
started to cry. She flung her arms around Eric and buried her face in his
shoulder. "What's wrong Ami? Are you okay?" He started to sooth her when
Teddy erupted into a furry and darted across the yard at top speed. They
followed the dogs trail only to find him barking at a rather terrified white
cat perched atop a bird bath safely out of the small dogs reach.
Eric grabbed Teddy and took him inside the house while Ami rescued
the feline from it's cement sanctuary. As she did she noticed the small
crescent shape on it's forehead. "Artemis?" She received a wink in return.
Glancing around she looked at him. " What's going on? What happened to
Eric?"
" I altered his memory. As far as he knows last night and the night
before where just like any other." The cat stretched out against her so his
head was near her ear. That way if Eric came back he could still whisper to
her.
" But what happened last night? Tomoe didn't..." Ami started.
Artemis cleared his throat and began his explanation.
" When Eric changed last night Luna and I realized why we could
sense him even though he didn't register as being form the moon kingdom.
He's a moon child."
" A moon child?" Was all that she could reply.
" There people born here on earth but at a certain time and lunar
cycle. The have a small amount of lunar energy in them as well as a small
amount of earth energy. They were Queen serenity's most loyal subjects and
the first to answer King Endymion's call to arms. Some of the more powerful
ones could alter their bodies to become huge wolves. Those we're the ones
who turned back the first waves of Beryl's forces." Ami carefully listened
to Artemis's words. When he paused she asked the one question that bothered
her.
" Can Eric ever become a werewolf again?"
" On his own no. He'd have to have access to a large amount of
Lunar energy again, like when Usagi hit him with her healing escalation. By
himself he barely has enough power to register on our senses." Ami breathed
a sigh of relief. She watched as Eric came walking back across the yard to
her. She began to rub Artemis and scratch at his ears. Artemis took that as
his cue and began acting like a perfectly normal, run of the mill cat.
" I don't know what gets into him sometimes. Usually he's not
aggressive against cats." Eric patted the cat on the head and received a
purr for his efforts.
Ami smiled. " Who knows. At any rate he seems fine, just a little
shook up." She hefted Artemis away from her shoulder. "Isn't that right
kitty."
"Mreow".
Ami set Artemis down and he trotted quickly into the bushes. She
turned back around to find Eric's hands on her shoulders.
" Are you okay Sweetheart? That was some kind of welcome you gave
me." She sighed and pressed against him.
" Yeah, I'm fine. I just had a nightmare last night, that's all."
" Must have been a really bad one if you came over here first
thing."
" I dreamt that you left me." Eric ruffled her hair and kissed her
forehead.
" Well you awake now sweetie. And I haven't left you, not going to
either if I have my way." Ami wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled
closer to him. So close to him in fact, Eric was having a little trouble
breathing, but that was okay. He was happy. And, for the first time in far
too long...so was Ami.
The days began to pass again as they always had, slow and methodical
in their repetition. Without Professor Tomoe to guide them, the death
busters quickly turned against each other. The scouts had little trouble
dealing with them and all to soon the girls found themselves facing a far
more frightening advisory, the real world. With no threat of supernatural
incursion happening anymore, the girls everyday lives now stood up and
demanded attention.
Ami was frozen to her spot, staring at Eric in mute shock. She
couldn't believe what she was seeing. There was no way this could have been
carried on behind her back, no way was this possible, not from Eric.
"Happy Birthday!" Eric and the others shouted. Even Teddy barked at
her with enthusiasm. Ami's emotions overcame her as her eyes started to
tear up. She stepped into the living room with her hands at her mouth,
shock and awe as Makoto and Michiru brought out a beautiful birthday cake
decorated with elegant swirls of icing and flickering candles.
"It was all Eric's idea." Minako chimed as they gathered around.
Ami was speechless for several moments after she had sat down and blown out
the candles. Before long though the shock wore off and she thanked them as
they all sat down and began to divide Makoto and Michiru's combined
masterpiece.
"I owe you for this Sweetie." She said teasingly as Eric handed her
a wrapped present. All she received in reply was his trademark devilish
grin. She giggled and began to open the gift. The festivities lasted for a
few hours before Her mother took her leave saying that she needed to up
early the next day and wanted to get a little sleep before then. The others
slowly began leaving too, each needing to head back to their homes for this
or that. Haruka and Michiru we're the last to leave, arm in arm and
flirting all the way down the walkway. Ami giggled at the thought that
those two probably wouldn't make it all the way back to their apartment.
With Just her and Eric alone (Teddy was asleep on his little doggy bed.) she
pulled him close and kissed him very passionately. "Alright you," She said
as they broke the kiss. "You said you had to take Teddy to the vet today and
that you'd be a while."
"I did...but I called and rescheduled the appointment...last week."
He smiled and she giggled and buried her head on his shoulders. "Close your
eyes. I have one more present for you." Ami complied as she felt Eric move
away from her. A moment later she felt something cold and vaguely metallic
come to rest in-between her collar bones. She could feel Eric's warm breath
on the back of her neck as he fastened it then leaned forward and lightly
brushed his lips against her skin. She shivered and opened her eyes.
Around her neck now hung a simple braided, gold necklace. On it was the
most exquisite sapphire setting she had ever seen.
"Oh...Eric. It's beautiful." She wrapped her arms around him and
kissed him. "I love it." After a moment and a few more kisses Ami added. "I
love you."
"I love you two Darling." Eric replied as they held each other
close. He began to kiss her again, then started to slide his lips down to
her neck. Ami "mmmm'ed" as she felt his lips trace very faint lines along
the length of her neck. Her hands began to slide down his spine and onto
his lower back eliciting a very soft moan from Eric. Her hands continued to
slide down onto his behind, squeezing his firm buttocks tightly as she felt
his hands roaming along her back and waist. Their kisses slowly began to
become ever so subtly more hungered and needing. Ami felt Eric's hand slide
slowly up her abdomen as he kissed his way her collar bone. His lips
caressed her flesh, brushing lightly against the top button of her blouse.
Through her rapidly hazing consciousness Ami noted that her hands had
stopped their roaming. One was kneading his butt in a not all together
gentle way, the other one had come to rest between them both and was being
extremely gentle with what it caressed. Against her body's will, Ami leaned
up and whispered into his ear.
"Eric...Eric , we n,need to stop..." She laid back down and tried
to steady her breath. Eric, for his part slowly rose up from her, not even
realizing that they had lowered themselves onto his couch or that she had
been under him.
"Yeah.,, That was starting to get a little fast wasn't it?"
"Kind of " She replied. She stood up and straitened her messed up
hair and clothes. Eric sat up as well. He walked over to her and after a
few moments spoke.
"This isn't the first time that this has happened." His statement
was rhetorical. She knew it, they both did. "What happens the next time?
Ami, are we ready for this?" His voice wavered. Ami could here the fear,
or was it just apprehension in his voice. After a moments thought she
turned to face him.
"No Eric. I don't think I'm ready to go that far." She leaned
against him.
"Neither am I." He replied.
"I do think that we need to redefine our relationship a little."
She slipped from his arms and walked over to the counter between the living
room and the kitchen. "I think m, maybe it's time..." She took a breath to
steady her nerves. "Maybe we could take things just a little bit farther,
maybe." She leaned on the counter facing away from him. The cool ceramic
tile felt good on her fore arms. She felt Eric's arms slide around her
waist as he walked up behind her, pulling her against his body.
"Let's wait a day or two before we decide okay. That'll give us
time to think about it with clear heads." Ami smiled. That was what she
liked about Eric. He acted with a cool head, always trying to think of a
good plan of action just like she did. She sighed and agreed with him. She
stayed in his arms for several more moments before finally pushing away.
"I have to get going. It's late and we do have school tomorrow."
"Yeah. Let me get my coat and I'll go with you." He walked over to
the closet and then the two left for Ami's.
Sailor Pluto stared at the image before her. Things were looking
very well. So far everything was going according to destiny, the future of
humanity was secure. Tomoe was defeated, Crystal Tokyo would be built,
signaling the founding of the moon kingdom and heralding the silver
millennium. Tsukino Usagi would ascend the throne as Queen Serenity and
Mamoru would be her king. The Senshi would go on to form the eight great
houses. With a contented sigh she aloud herself to smile. "Perfect." She
sighed and eased back into her chair. Then she saw the ripple. The scene
changed in the blink of an eye and she saw all that was turn to ashes and
ruin. Pluto bolted from her chair and stared at the image. "But, how?" Her
eyes blazed with determination as she began scanning the streams of time
looking for the answers. So many variables, so many lines of probability.
It was going to be a painstaking process but she set herself to the task
vowing to find out what had went awry.
But on Earth, unlike Pluto's bastion, Time moves the only way and
only speed it can, forward and one day at a time. People went about their
lives each day, unaware that lurking among them was the seeds of a great
evil. None of them knew how close they were yet again to their own
damnation.
The young woman stared into nothing. She hadn't seen it coming
until it was too late and the mists had enveloped her. She felt herself
slip into darkness as it dominated her mind. Beside her stood one of her
friends. A colleague who had sprung for a quick bite of lunch away from the
office. Now both girls stood motionless as the vaporous creature hovered
before them and spoke into their minds. `You are now mine to command. I
require more servants.` It faded slowly back into the shadows. `Go and
bring unto me your friends.` It watched as the they both nodded and left
the alleyway. Once back on the street the two ladies paused, shook their
heads and looked at each other quizzically. After a moment they went back
to their office talking and laughing as if nothing had happened. The
creature watched and was content. They would bring back more thralls and
soon he would have enough minions to find the eggs and deal with the Senshi
when the time came. It was all a matter of time after all. and that was
something it had ample amounts of.
Ami watched as Minako pondered the question before her. She had
never thought that she'd need to take her friend up on the offer of advise
about her relationship but she needed to talk to some one and Mina was the
only one that she felt comfortable talking to, at least about this. "Well?"
She asked hesitantly.
"Hmmm. This is a tough one girl. You don't just rush into these
kinds of things. Especially not that." She rolled over onto her back and
draped her head over the side of her bed. "You have to be the one to decide
when it's time to go to the next step, you and Eric. If you rush things
then, well, you'll end up hurting each other in ways that you can't fix."
She sighed as she saw Ami lean back against the bed and look at her.
"I don't think I'm ready to go all the way but..." She drifted off
as a blush came over her face.
"But you want a little more than a good night kiss. I know. I've
been there." Mina replied. Ami's eye shot wide open as she started at her
friend in shock.
"You mean, you've..."
"No. Not that far but I have gone a stage or so farther than just
kissing. Only once though." Mina's eyes became saddened. "It ended up not
working out. He turned out to be only interested in me for just that
reason. When I said no he dumped me." She sat up and hopped off of the bed.
"Oh well. Maybe one day I'll find a guy that's not a total jerk." She sat
down next to Ami and hugged her. "Just like you did." Ami just giggled and
hugged her friend back.
"Thanks Mina. Eric said we should wait a day or two, that was a
week ago. It's all I've been thinking about but I think I know what I'm
going to tell him." Mina leaned in close.
"What?" she asked. Ami looked down and started to blush. Mina
smirked then began to grin. This set Ami into smiling as well all be it an
embarrass smile. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, maybe just a little." Ami admitted. "Thanks Mina. I knew I
could count on you."
"Hey you go through a few relationships you pick up a few things."
Mina said as Ami left. "Good luck kid." *You're going to need all you can
get.* She added mentally.
Ami headed home and noted that as usual, her mother was not at home.
A message on the answering machine told her the reason for the late shift
switch so Ami was not worried. Plopping down her books, she picked up the
phone and began dialing. "Hi honey." She chimed as Eric picked up the
other end. "I just wanted to know if you wanted to study here or at your
house tonight? Here? Okay I'll see you in a bit then." She hung up the
phone and ordered dinner. Eric arrived, conveniently enough, at the same
time the Chinese delivery girl did. He bowed at the buxom teen as she
handed Ami her change. Together they went inside and began their usual
study routine. A few hours later, with all of their other studies complete
Ami and Eric began studying what was rapidly becoming their favorite
subject, each other.
Eric sat on the floor leaning against the couch. Ami was sitting
astride his waist. She leaned forward, draping her arms over his neck,
kissing him while his hands roamed across the expanse of her shoulders. As
before, their kisses had slowly become more and more wanton. Their caresses
more bold. This time however, Ami did not stop Eric's hands as one slid
slowly up along her abdomen and onto the swell of her breast. She slid her
lips down and began kissing passionately on his neck causing him to pause
momentarily in surprise. He whispered into her ear when he regained
himself. "I take it that you've made your decision?" Ami pulled away and
looked at him then nodded slowly.
"I want us to go farther. Not all the way but," She paused for a
moment. "Let's not get carried away, agreed?" She smiled down at Eric and
placed her hand on top of his. He smiled and pulled her back to him gently.
"Agreed." He whispered as his lips met hers once more. All the
butterflies in Ami's stomach began to settle down as she relaxed into the
kiss. She would trust him not to overstep her boundaries. Harder still she
thought, was trusting herself not to overstep them as well.
"Come on Hiro-chan, you've got to see this place. It's the best!"
Hirosuke did his best to keep up with his girlfriend. She was practically
dragging him down the street towards the shopping district. Whatever type
of club this was it had to be totally out of this world for Miyaki to be
this wired about it. Oh well, as long as the cover wasn't an arm and a leg
he didn't care. She turned around as they reached a street light and
paused, giving him a very seductive look. "I promise you'll have the time of
your life."
He new what that look meant. Now he didn't care if the cover really
was an arm and a leg, he'd pay it just to make his little Miya-chan happy.
He never could resist her charms.
The club looked like little more than a small coffee shop really.
Miyaki explained as they approached the door that it had only recently
opened up and they were still getting the front remodeled. He nodded and
handed the bouncer several yen notes as her passed through the door. Not
cheap but definitely not the worst place he'd been in. The place was packed
but no one seemed to be dancing. "Hey Miya-chan? How come there's no music?"
Hiro asked as the wandered deeper into the crowd.
"The DJ probably hasn't started his next mix yet. Want to meet him,
he's a real blast." Hirosuke nodded and they made there way to the glowing,
purple area in the back of the room. As they cleared the crowd, Hirosuke
was lifted well off of his feet as the lance of energy slammed into his
chest. He tried to scream but it filled his throat and lungs faster than he
could react. He dropped to the floor and convulsed in front of his smiling
girlfriend. "See, I told you he was a real blast..." She turned to her dark
master as it finished devouring her boyfriend. Slowly he rose to stand
beside her, blank faced.
~Very good my little ones. now, go. Find the lair which Tomoe kept
the eggs. And find out who the Senshi are and where they live. I want to
destroy them and all whom they hold close.~ The people in the room nodded
and turned, filing out of the room one by one. The creature watched them and
thought to itself. *Soon my siblings, soon we shall all have human hosts.
You shall dwell in the husks of the Senshi while I walk this world within
dear sweet sailor Moon's body, and torture her soul for all of eternity.
But first. I shall deal with you Mercury.* It's thoughts grew darker and
filled with near unchecked rage and malevolence. *Or should I say Mizuno
Ami?* Had it a voice it would have laughed.
Somewhere far off, Mizuno Ami awoke with a start. She sat bolt
upright in her bed, A thin layer of sweat covering her skin. She took
several deep breaths as she steadied her nerves. Why had she woken so
suddenly? And why, more importantly, did she feel like something somewhere
was seriously wrong?
*********
And another chapter comes to a close. I thank all of you who have wrote
back thus far and welcome all who write me after this.
TW.
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