Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Beauty In You ❯ The Final Touches ( Chapter 4 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

The Beauty in You
by Lady Ambre a.k.a. Amby-chan
Part Four: Finale

~*~ I want to dedicate this chapter to one of the people who kind of.. reminded me about this story and just how much I DID want to finish it. She made me WANT to finish it, (and my webpage heehee) and she's really been a source of inspiration.

So,.. Nayrin. This is for you girl!! *G*

All right, this one is really really long, so please just bear with me. Thanx! *G*

'Member, when you finish reading this, don't forget to give me some input back! Either review or email me at amby-chan@sailormoon.com! CandC welcome!! *G* ~*~


'In every color, there's the light...
In every stone sleeps a crystal...
Remember the Shaman, when he used to say...
Man is the Dream of dolphins....'
- Dream of Dolphins by Enigma


Chapter One: Wednesday night; Tsukino Residence

Usagi sat on her bed, looking out her window, her long hair shining like silver gold in the moonlight. Her eyes were troubled; what had the dream meant? Was the Beast really to blame? No, she didn't think so anymore. It was everyone else's fault that he'd become a true beast, and not in appearances.

The fae.. He'd called her Fae, when she first met him, damning her. Now the Fae had come to her in her dreams. Who was the Fae? Was she real? Was she good? Evil? Or just herself, nonaligned? A thousand questions assaulted her mind and she sighed. She wouldn't get anymore sleep tonight.

She turned slightly at the sound of footsteps in the hall, quickly pulling the covers over her, turning around and shutting her eyes tightly, to pretend sleep. Her mother opened her bedroom door, crossing to her to shake her gently.

"Usagi? Usagi, there's someone downstairs that wants to talk to you. I told her it was very late and you'd probably be asleep, but she said it was very important." Her mother's voice held a note of bewilderment in her.. Bewilderment at what could have caused the girl downstairs to be almost hysterical. It had been all she could do to make out what the girl had come to their door for.

Usagi forgot to pretend to be asleep, turning over. "What?" She yawned, and stood up, rubbing her eyes. "Who is it?" She asked.

"I don't know, I couldn't make out her name.." Her mother said, gesturing downstairs. "She said she wanted to talk to you, so I think your father and I will leave you two alone... Usagi," She said, putting her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "She's really worked up. Please try to help her.."

Usagi nodded, walking out of her room and downstairs. The sitting room light was on, and she blinked against it a couple times before her eyes adjusted. She nearly gasped. "Kagi?!"

Kagi raised her head to look at Usagi, and Usagi nearly gasped in surprise. Her wrist was sporting a livid bruise that was rapidly turning a dark purple shade, and from what Usagi could see, there were bruises on her upper arms as well. The bruise on her wrist was in the shape of a man's hand. Who had done this to her? But her concern over the bruises fled from her mind after one glance into Kagi's eyes.

Tears were streaming down her face. She was pale and trembling, and looked alone, forlorn, and shaken. But it was her gaze that nearly made Usagi cry. Kagi looked like she'd just lost everything she'd ever held dear to her -- shocked anguish and pain radiated from her gaze.

"Kagi-chan, what's wrong??" Usagi crossed to the couch, sitting down next to Kagi. Kagi's chestnut curls wavered slightly as she swallowed rapidly, trying to get a control on her emotions.

"I'm so sorry, but I didn't know who else to turn to, Usagi-chan, and I knew you'd help me. I'm so sorry I disturbed you." Usagi shook her head.

"It's no problem Kagi-chan.. What's the matter?"

Kagi trembled for a moment, quiet, and then burst into tears. Usagi drew her into a hug and the other girl simply cried for a moment, her hot tears soaking Usagi's nightshirt. "I only wanted to help him, I didn't even know why but he needed me and I know what it's like to be an outcast, but I didn't think he'd .. he'd.. I had to protect him Usagi-chan, I had to do it for him, but he saw us and he didn't want to listen to me! He didn't want to listen, but I just want to help him, and now he's probably off trying to kill himself and I.. I don't know how to find him." Sobs wracked the girl's thin frame. "I just know that jerk James is going to find him and kill him and there's nothing I can do about it! I just want him back, Usagi-chan, I want him to see how much he means to me..." She dissolved into tears.

"Who, Kagi-chan? Who?" Usagi pressed softly. Her blue eyes were wide and worried, hoping that the feeling growing inside of her was wrong, that this growing sense of dread was misplaced. Kagi didn't answer for a moment, simply crying. Usagi opened her mouth to prompt her again when Kagi fell silent for a moment, tears leaking from the corners of her eyes.

"Tora-chan." She whispered, and then began to cry again.

Usagi felt numb, unfeeling almost. Her dream came back to her again in pounding, brilliant reality. Tora, the Beast. Kagi, the girl. .. James McClaire, the bounty hunter. She knew with a suddenly clarity what it meant, and her heart almost broke. "God no.. Shit.." She whispered to herself, then looked down at Kagi, her eyes suddenly resolutely.

"Kagi, I'm going to do something right now that I need you to keep secret. You can't tell 'anyone', got it? I'm going to try and save Tora, but I need you to trust me." Kagi nodded mutely, a bit puzzled, and Usagi stood, pulling the other girl up with her. "Luna!!" She called softly up to her room, repeating it twice before her cat finally appeared, shaking her head groggily. "Luna, Tora's the beast. Kagi's been helping him, but he ran away. We have to find him."

Kagi sweatdropped a bit, despite her anguish. "Usagi-chan, you're talking to your-"

But she didn't finish, for right then, Luna broke in. "I'll call the other Scouts on the communicator. You get over to Rei-chan's temple, I'll tell them to meet you there!" Luna commanded. Kagi stared, then looked at Usagi.

"Usagi-chan.." Kagi said in a very small voice. "Your.. your cat.. talks.."

"Yeah. Get ready Kagi-chan, 'cause that's not all." Usagi said, pulling Kagi towards the door. She didn't respond to the questioning glance that Kagi shot at her, the two girls slipping outside. Usagi led her around to the back of the house, into a dark alley.

"What are we doing, Usagi-chan? We can't be digging around in the trash, we have to find Tora-chan before McClaire does!" Kagi whispered urgently, her heart thudding with tight fear for Tora, and the pain that his rejection of her had caused. She felt tears well up inside of her again, but pushed them down, for right then Usagi halted, glancing around.

Usagi stood. "We're going to find Tora-chan." She said quietly, slipping her broach off. Kagi stared at Usagi in amazement. Where was the Usagi that she was so used to? This Usagi was so mature, so in control of the situation, with a quiet confidence. Then..

"MOON COSMIC POWER!" Usagi cried, and threw her hand up in the air. Kagi's eyes widened as before her, the soldier of love and justice formed from the innocent schoolgirl she'd gone to for a shoulder to cry on.

Super Sailormoon straightened, the light dying away as she turned to look at Kagi, smiling. "So, whadda ya think?"

"Ve.. very nice..." Kagi stuttered, still in shock. Super Sailormoon grinned, but then her mission set back in, and her face became solemn again. She turned to Kagi, reaching out and grasping the other girl's hand. Her azure eyes stared into Kagi's violet ones for a moment before she smiled slightly.

"Don't worry Kagi. We're going to save Tora." Super Sailormoon grabbed Kagi's hand, then looped an arm around her waist. "Hold on tight," she told her with a small smile, then bunched her muscles underneath her. With a single leap, they were up and over and on top of the building next to them.

Kagi clung to Sailormoon as they leaped over the city. Usagi-chan.. no, Super Sailormoon, never seemed to tire. It seemed like forever until she landed in the courtyard of a temple. A raven haired Scout stepped forward, a tall brown haired one, a golden haired on, and a blue haired one in back of her. The Sailor team. She.. She could recognize them now. Ami-chan, Rei-chan, Makoto-chan, Minako-chan. Why hadn't she seen it before?

Her thoughts were brushed aside as Sailormoon stepped forward, turning to Ami-chan... Sailormercury. "Kagi-chan says that James-san is after Tora-san. We need to find him, and help him."

"Why?" Sailormars burst out, opening her hands. "Odangoatama, he tried to kill all those innocents!"

"It wasn't his fault!" Kagi yelled, stepping forward. The Scouts turned to look at her, almost as if they were just realizing she was there. Her shoulders were set, one hand rubbing the bruise on her arm. Tears glistened in her eyes. "Don't you understand? He's going to die! He only has a few hours left, at most, then whatever has happened to him, a curse or whatever it is, is going to wear off and he's going to DIE! Please! Please..." She trailed off, a tear slipping down her cheek, pain in her eyes.

Sailorvenus stepped forward, putting a hand on Kagi's shoulder. "If you say he's .. good,.. I guess we'll take your word for it. We have to find him, and end this.. One way or another." Kagi looked up at her, quietly resolved.

"He's not evil."

"No one said he was," Sailormoon said gently, smiling. Her smiled faded a bit, her azure eyes serious as she gently continued: "But no one said he wasn't. Don't worry Kagi, we'll figure this out, as Venus said, one way or another. Sailormercury can you-"

"Two steps ahead of you Sailormoon." With a soft swish, she activated her visor, tapping on her computer as she slowly turned in a circle. The Scouts waited, watched, Kagi having to force herself to breath. Sailormercury sighed, taking off her visor. "I.. I can't get a trace on him. He's not a youma.." She shrugged.

"Damn!" Sailormoon whispered, biting on the tip of her thumb's glove, worry flooding through her.

Silence.

The Scouts looked at each other, each with their private misgivings, Kagi burying her face in her hands. Her shoulders shook slightly with fear and pain. She had to find Tora, she had to! She couldn't let him die angry at her, thinking that she'd done what she'd done because she hated him.. Then, suddenly, she froze.

"Kami... I .. I know where he is!" She burst out, the Scouts turning to her once again.

"Where, Kagi-chan? Where??" Sailorjupiter prompted, her hands tightening into fists, green eyes boring into Kagi. Her whole frame was taut, her blazing gaze falling on Kagi, who looked away slightly.

"I .. I don't know why I didn't see it before!" Kagi whispered, laughing bitterly. "Kami.. It makes perfect sense.." She raised her head to look at them, eyes filled with glistening, glittering tears.

"He's at Hangecu Tower."


Chapter Two: Wednesday night/Early Thursday Morning; Hangecu Tower

He paused, pulling his hands out of his pocket to look at them, clenching and unclenching them, feeling his normal face. His hour.. It was almost up. One thing he could say about the Fae was that she did have some compassion. She'd given him the ability to assume his human form for an hour at a time. However, it didn't matter whether he wanted to or not, as soon as an hour went by, his bestial form was resume, no matter where he was.

He looked up at the Tower. "Home.." He muttered, listening to his gravely voice, rusty from disuse. He was home, he told himself. Back to his shelter, to hide in while he died.

He felt empty.

Kagi, his mind screamed out.. Kagi could break this.. Kagi was the answer... 'No!' He mentally raged, gritting his teeth against these feelings that flooded through him. 'She made her choice. She isn't the one for me. She tried to betray me!! There is no hope for me... It's time for me to return to my solitude.. To sleep, to die...'

He raised his head, his teal eyes glittering with anger, tears, and grief. Shaking his head, he walked into the darkness of the building. The blackness, the smell of death and decay, the quiet,.. it welcomed him, as familiar and comforting as the fairy tales he'd once upon a time loved.

He slowly climbed the stairs, his footsteps making muted echoes through the dark hallways. Feeling empty, feeling numb, he stood in the doorway to his lair. It had once been a very plush apartment. Now, everything was ripped, torn, faded, or musty,.. or all of the above. His feet raised little clouds of dust as he crossed the dirty red carpet to the pedestal.

The rose...

He stroked the iridescent orb, the only source of light in the room, feeling its cold fire spread through his fingers, tingling and prickling, exciting and hurting every nerve. The rose was still that vibrant, eye-shocking ruby red, its stem still round and emerald green, leaves still wide and lush looking.

A tear fell from his eye to the orb. There was only one petal left on the rose. The rest lay littered on the bottom of the orb. The petal was barely hanging on. It seemed like it was torturing him.

"Just fall.. damn you.. Fall..." He whispered, and let his head rest on the orb's surface, welcoming in the pain it sent through him to touch it.

Then, it happened.. His hour was up. With a low snarl of pain, he felt himself fall forward on all fours, losing his human form. He was a beast again. He looked down at his paws, his claws, and then shook the remains of his torn clothes off of him, letting his human side go.. Slipping into his instincts, into his bestial mindset. He didn't want to think anymore. He didn't want to feel. He didn't want to even be.

He turned his eyes from the darkness to the orb, and sat down on his haunches. Another tear slipped from his teal eyes, sliding down his fur to rest like a small diamond against the dark chestnut of his fur.

And then, through the silence, came the ominous click of a rifle being loaded.

"It surprises me, first of all, that you could walk away in your human form. It wasn't until after I'd walked four blocks that I made the connection.. Tricky cur..." James stepped into the room, slowly raising the gun, the crossfire trained on Tora.

Tora didn't move, didn't respond.

"I mean, it makes perfect sense now, but it was quite a shock then." James's cold eyes looked around the room, walking with slow, sure steps to face Tora from the other side of the room, staring at the orb with a small smirk. "And then, I managed to follow you here. Good thinking on my part." He laughed coldly, his amusement fading as he looked back at Tora. "Where's the girl? I know she's here.. Stupid wench..."

Tora's eyes were dull, almost unfocused. "The girl is not here," he said at last, still not moving.

"Oh, she's not? I don't believe you in that. Because, you see, Tora, that girl is deeply attached to you.." He laughed again. "Even when I offered her everything that a girl would ever, could ever want, all she could think about was saving her precious Tora-san..." His voice was mocking.

Tora's eyes focused on him suddenly, warily. "What are you talking about, hunter? I saw you two in the hall.. That didn't look like protecting me at all...."

"I was!" James and Tora turned at the same time to see Kagi standing in the doorway, her chest heaving, violet eyes sparkling with tears. The Sailor Scouts stood behind her. Slowly, she walked towards Tora, her hands held out, eyes pleading. "It was the only way, Tora-san, to keep him away from you. I.. I didn't know what else to do! It was the only thing I could think of to keep him from barging into the apartment where I'd hide you. I'd never hurt you. All I wanted to do was to protect you. That's all I've ever wanted to do."

Tora's eyes widened slightly, watching Kagi as she stopped halfway from him, slowly drawing her hands back to herself, looking away quietly. Tears shone on her cheeks. She.. she was only protecting him! His heart suddenly thudded in his chest, and he found himself rising from his crouch, his eyes still on her trembling frame. She cared.. She really cared...

"Kagi.. I-" he began, but suddenly, there was a low chuckle, breaking through their thoughts.

"'I was ooonly protecting you oh deear Tora'..." James snickered again, mockingly. "Give me a break. You enjoyed it you wench, and you know it. And why do you waste your tears on a beast? He can't feel, can't care in return. He's just a beast!"

"HE IS NOT!" Sailormoon stepped from the doorway, eyes blazing as she gently put her hands on Kagi's shoulders. "He's not just a beast. He's a living person. He may have the body of a beast, but he has the heart of a man." Kagi looked at Sailormoon, her eyes shining her thanks.

"I don't care what he is, that bounty money is mine!" And then James raised the gun, squeezing the trigger.

"NO!!!" Kagi screamed, flinging herself at Tora, knocking them out of the way. The bullet grazed her upper arm, tearing a hole in her shirt. Tora's paws gently cushion her fall, and he rose with a soft growl in his throat, looking down at her with worry and wonder in his eyes. Kagi slowly pushed herself to her feet, looking up at him with a small smile.

"MARS FLAME SNIPER!" Sailormars cried, the fire-arrow cutting through the barrel of the rifle, melting it as it halved it. The useless barrel cluttered to the ground. "We won't let you hurt him anymore!"

James raised his head to look at them with a small smirk. "You can't stop me." Suddenly, the Scouts were flying back, pinned against the wall by some unknown force. "See, Scouts.. I'm not just a man. There are a lot of things you don't know about this world. For one, that which you call the Negaverse isn't an alien body. There are lots of us scattered around the globe, biding our time till we find the Key to unlocking the Fae's power, then we'll destroy you all."

"The.. Fae?" Kagi's voice was hushed, silent.

"Yes, the Fae." James snapped in reply. "See, there are two non-human races on this world. There are the Dark Ones, those that remain of Metallica's forces, the evil ones banded together. Then there are those of the Light, the Children of the Sun. These are the Fae, the mystical beings of power who keep we of the shadows at bay. The Fae draw their power from a mysterious Vessel, some weapon or tool that holds the greatest power in the world. It would dwarf your Crystal, Sailormoon brat. Our mission is to find this power, this key of light and goodness. Once we have the key, we can unlock the Vessel, and rule the world for once and for all."

"What does that have to do with us?" Tora snarled, standing protectively between Kagi and James, his long tail thrashing back and forth in anger. He seemed to glow, to radiate with his rage.

"Everything." James smiled, his eyes falling on Kagi, who stared back in anger. "I was once told, but Metallica herself, that if I found the Beast, that the Key would virtually fall into my hands. So, hearing about your little rampage was a dream come true. I knew that if I came here, I'd make a little money, and fulfill our quest. For the Key!"

Kagi's chest was heaving slightly, strands of chestnut hair falling into her face, obscuring her eyes. She could see the Scouts fighting, striving to free themselves from their imprisonment. "We'll never let you get that..."

"What are you going to do, Kofukuno Kagi?" He gestured with his hand, and Tora went sliding back. With a roar, the beast leaped at James, but James raised his hand again, and Tora hit a wall, crumpling to the ground. Slowly he advanced towards Kagi, eyes mocking. She scrambled for a weapon, swinging at his head with a old lamp. He knocked it out of her hands and grabbed her wrists, pulling her to her feet. "Kofukuno Kagi.. The Key to Happiness.. But there's something you don't know. Your name, in an old version of the Japanese language can also mean something else." His smile grew even wider. "The Key to the Universe."

Turning, he dragged her with him, towards the door. "TORA!! TORA!!" Kagi screamed, thrashing as she fought to get away from James. James's grip only tightened on his hand, pulling her along faster.

"Kagi..." Tora whispered, fighting to stand, to go to her. He fell back down, his chest heaving, teal eyes following her, furious at his own helplessness. "Kagi!..." He only dimly heard the angry cries of Sailormoon and her Scouts as they fought to release themselves.

And then, Tora stiffened, feeling a gentle, feather soft touch on his back. A familiar scent drifted to him, a soft light gathering in back of him, slowly forming into a tall woman, with long silver hair and violet eyes, a beautiful crescent moon signal on her forehead and two butterfly wings, transparent and iridescent arched out from her back. She wore a long, white gown.

"Fae!" gasped Tora just as Sailormoon cried out "Mother?!"

"Yes, and no," the woman said quietly, smiling. "I'll get to your questions in a minute. First off-" she raised her hand and gestured.

Kagi and James suddenly stopped, James doubling over in pain, as if he'd run head first into a electric fence. Kagi seized the opportunity and slammed her foot into his shin. He let her go and she scrambled away, running to Tora. "Tora," she whispered, helping him to a crouching position. He smiled bravely as Kagi's eyes raised to the woman. "Who.." She suddenly paled, her violet eyes growing wide. "Grandmother..."

"Yes, my granddaughter. I am Selene.. I'm your grandmother and.. a Fae." Selene's eyes turned to the Sailorscouts, and she gestured. They found themselves suddenly released, stumbling to their feet. "No, I am not your mother, dear Princess, but I am your aunt. I am your mother's elder sister. That is why when Tora-san saw you, he believed you were me. The resemblance, I admit, is striking..."

"You're.. you're the goddamned Fae that cursed me!" Tora suddenly roared, trying to leap at her. She looked down at him with an expression of immense pity and... affection.

"Tora, stop! You'll hurt yourself!" Kagi's cry was slightly muffled as she threw her arms around Tora's neck, trying to pull him back. He shook her off roughly, looking down at her with sudden anger.

"Your grandmother cursed me. You're part of her.. My enemy!!"

"No!" Kagi cried desperately, tears springing to her eyes. No! Not again! She couldn't bear to lose him, again! "Tora, please.."

"No! No!!" Tora turned his head from her. "I be a normal man now, if it wasn't for your grandmother, for her," he snarled, raising his head to glare at Selene angrily. "For all of you Fae!"

He whirled away from them, and suddenly, Kagi's eyes widened, letting out a terrified gasp. "TORA! Watch out!" Tora whirled in time to meet the energy blast head on, letting out a cry of pain as he skidded back a few feet.

"James, you have terrorized this Earth long enough," Selene said softly, angrily as she stepped forward, her wings fluttering as if to emphasize her words. James raised his head to stare at her with eyes filled with fury, snarling slightly.

"Selene, you're forgetting something. I am stronger than you'll ever be!!" He raised his hands, smiling. "You passed your power on, remember, to that boy of yours Koori! And he passed it on to that brat over there" he pointed at Kagi, his face full of triumph. "And once a Fae passes on their power, they become weak! Your son was stronger than you were, but I still was able to kill him!"

"You killed him! You killed my son! You're the one to blame!" Selene cried in sudden pain and anger, tears falling from her cheeks. "I've searched this world for years, to find my son's murderer, and now he comes to me with all the brash cockiness of a fool! I don't care how powerful you are! You killed my son, and I'll kill you!!"

As if her words were a trigger, the Scouts stepped in.

"MARS FLAME SNIPER!"
"VENUS LOVE AND BEAUTY SHOCK!"
"JUPITER OAK EVOLUTION!"
"MERCURY AQUA RHAPSODY!!"
"RAINBOW MOON HEART ACHE!!!"

James was flung across the room by the fury of the attacks, the wall crumbling under the attack as his cry of pain and anger filled the room. Dust bloomed into the air, clouding and obscuring the sight.

"Did we.. get him?" Sailorvenus asked hesitantly, into the silence.

"No," Selene said softly. "You didn't."

As if to prove her words, James suddenly leapt out of the clouds, gesturing again. The Scouts and Selene screamed in pain as they were flung back again, crumpling to the ground. James slowly dusted off his clothes as he stood, smirking down at them, then turning to Kagi and Tora, who were watching uneasily, not being able to help.

"Your turn.." He snarled. Tora leaped to the attack, but James was ready. Snarling, Tora swiped his claws at James, the man ducking, slamming his fist into Tora's ribs. Tora let out an inhumane roar, diving at James, aiming to crush him. James rolled out of the way, then leapt on Tora's back.

"Tora!! TORA!!" Kagi screamed, watching the two fighting, another lamp in her hands, ready to bash James if he got the opportunity. Tora and James rolled around on the floor. Suddenly Kagi screamed.

James had pulled out a knife. Arching it over his head, he plunged it into Tora's chest, a river of scarlet blood rushing out. "TORA!!!" Kagi screamed, and screamed again and again. Tora cried out in pain. Kagi ran to him, shoving James away as she knelt by him. She didn't notice that James flew across the room, slamming into the wall.

"Oh kami.. Tora.. Tora, please speak to me.. Oh gods above, please don't let this happen. Tora!!" Kagi wrapped Tora's hands in her own, rocking him softly. Tora opened his eyes, smiling quietly, one paw hiding from her view the hideous wound on his chest.

"Kagi.." he whispered, and his voice was like a warm breeze, caressing her cheek. "Kagi, there's.. something.. I .. I have to .. tell you..." He suddenly bent over in pain, a wracking cough shaking his form.

"No, Tora, it's ok.. Just save your breath. We'll help you. You've just got to save your strength. Just relax.." She soothed, gently smoothing away the fur from his eyes. He looked up at her, the need to speak to her in his eyes. And.. the knowledge he was going to die. "Tora, there's something I have to tell you," Kagi said suddenly, closing her eyes for a moment before looking down at him. "Tora, I l-"

But what she wanted to say she didn't get to, for just then James slammed into her form, sending her rolling across the ground. She cried out in pain, slowly raising her head to look at him. He was laughing, the bastard, he was laughing in triumph and victory.

"Perfect! I've killed the Beast, and now I've got the Key! I've won! I've won!!"

Kagi began to weep, burying her head in her arms. There was no one to help her! There was no one left to stop this madman, to save her Tora.. There was no one! James had won!!.. Then, suddenly, a voice called to her.

(Kagi... Kagi... Oh my daughter, my beautiful little girl...) The voice washed over her, soothing away her pain and her tears, wrapping her in its familiar comfort. Kagi nearly choked.

"Daddy?" She whispered softly, feeling his arms around her as surely as if he'd been standing there next to her. She slowly raised her head, her heart thudding in disbelief.

(Yes, yes my little Kagi.. It's me, your father. Listen Kagi, things are bad, but I know you can help. You're a Fae, darling, a Child of the Sun. You've got powers, powers that not even James can counter. See, when a Fae produces a son or daughter, most of their power goes to that child. Each generation is slightly stronger than they were before, for as they grow, they too gain their own powers to add to those they've been given. Honey, you've got all the powers of the Fae from before you, back to the Silver Millennium. You've just got to believe. You've got to concentrate on something you really, truly want, and use your powers to get that... Do you understand, love? You must destroy James!)

"I understand Daddy. And I won't let you down." She slowly stood, reaching into herself. She knew it, with the sudden clarity of a revelation, she knew that she could do it. She had the power. She was pure power, she was a daughter of the Sun and a Child of the Light. She was the Key to the power.

"James!" She suddenly yelled, commanding. James raised his head to look at her, his expression turning from annoyance, to shock, to hatred, and finally to rage. She was glowing. She was glowing with her power, sending beams of light into the furthest reaches of the room. Gleaming on her head was the sign of the silver crescent moon.

"JAMES!!" She screamed again in hatred, pushing her power out. She wasn't scared anymore. There was no room in her to be afraid, not any longer. She hated James. He'd killed her father, hurt her friends, killed her Tora. He was going to die.

He fought back, his power wrapping around him like a shield, and for one terrible moment, her power, the power of this light, this Universe, was pushed back, rebuffed. But then she looked at Tora, his chest scarlet, and her resolved was strengthened. She let out a scream of pure rage and anger, and the world erupted into light.

James screamed in pain as the light shattered him, tearing him fiber from fiber, and then, into nothingness.


Chapter 3: Wednesday night, Hangecu Tower.

Kagi slowly let the power fade, feeling strangely spent yet empowered at the same time. As soon as her feet had touched the ground, she was running, stumbling towards Tora, tears in her eyes. "TORA!" She knelt by him, gently cradling his paw in her own, pressed gently against her heart.

"Tora," she whispered again, and nearly cried in relief when his eyes slowly fluttered, and opened. "Oh Tora, he's gone.. He's gone, I killed him. I made him pay. You're going to be all right, I swear it..."

His chest heaved as he weakly shook his head, smiling quietly, bravely, bitterly. "No, .. Kagi.. I.. I'm dying..." He gently "sh"ed away her objections, still smiling quietly, his eyes slowly glazing over. "The .. curse.. Kagi.. I'm going to die.. anyway... when the.. last petal falls... from .. the... rose...."

"No! Tora! You can't leave me," Kagi sobbed, her heart breaking in her chest all over. Her tears rolled down her cheeks, sparkling like stars in the darkness as they fell onto Tora's rough fur.

"I'll.. never really.. leave you... Kagi...." Tora whispered, reaching up with one paw to gently stroke her cheek, smoothing the tears away from her skin. She smiled through her tears at him, and he smiled, his head slowly relaxing backwards, an almost peaceful expression on his face.

She cried out his name again as his paw gently dropped from her face, falling onto his chest, which ceased its regular motion. Folding herself over him, she began to cry again.

And in back of them, in the glowing orb sparkling on the pedestal, the last petal on the rose slowly fell over, spiraling to join the other petals on the bottom of the orb.

As it slowly settled to its place, Kagi whispered to Tora, one last time. "I love you, Tora."

She began to cry again, her tears falling like rain onto his still body. Sailormoon rose from the rubble, she and the others having been awakened by Kagi's power, their wounds healed. Gently, she knelt by the other, folding her into her arms. Kagi wrapped her arms around Sailormoon and sobbed as if she was losing herself.

Selene rose, her dirty, torn dress fluttering slightly as she took in the scene, tears shining in her eyes. Slowly she walked over to the orb, laying a hand on it.

"I put the curse on Tora," she said softly, her voice breaking into and through Kagi's tears. "He was, when I met him, a cruel and selfish tyrant, a prince of the old Earth who hated the sight of anyone and everyone except his own reflection. I appeared to him, dressed as one of his peasants, and pleaded with him to change his ways, to let up on the harsh, demanding taxes and open his heart." She smiled coldly at the memory of that day. "He laughed at me and had me thrown out of his castle. I appeared to him two more times to plead with him, and on the third time, when he cast me out of his palace, I revealed my true form to him. He begged for mercy, told me over and over again that he'd learned his lesson and that he would change his ways. But it was too late for that. In my wrath, I put a curse on him. He would live an eternal youth, for a thousand years, until the rose in the orb began to fade. When the last petal fell from the rose, he would die..." She looked at her audience, smiling softly at their aghast expressions. "But there was one way, and only one way, to break his curse. He had to love someone, truly love them, and have their love given freely in return."

Selene turned her violet eyes to Kagi, smiling quietly. "Strange how Destiny chooses to arrange itself. The granddaughter of the very Fae who'd cursed him.. She would release him from his curse." She walked to Tora's still body, facing Kagi as she knelt by his form. "Do you love Tora-san, Kagi-chan? Truly love him?"

Kagi nodded furiously, her throat thick. She swallowed repeatedly, whispering out, "Yes. Yes Grandmother, I love him. I truly love him."

"And he loves you." Selene slowly stood, a strange smile on her face. "In that case..." Her voice trailed off, into the silence.

Kagi's eyes were drawn to Tora, widening slightly. With a shock of pure brilliance, a beam of light shot from the wound on his chest, bending over to arch gently underneath him. It wrapped around him faster and faster, hiding him from view.

And then, the beams exploded out and a fully human Tora slowly drifted back to Earth, clad in the rags of his bestial form. "Tora...?" Kagi whispered, slowly moving back to Tora's side. Brushing a stray strand of dark chestnut hair from his smooth face, she looked down in awe at the most handsome man she'd ever seen in her life.

Suddenly, he began to breath again, drawing in a heaving breath of air that spread through his entire form. He coughed, sitting up, teal eyes blinking open. "What...?" He looked around the room, his eyes wide. "I.. I'm .. alive?"

"Yes! Yes, you're alive Tora, you're alive!" Kagi flung her arms around him, sobbing again, this time in joy. Tora looked down at her, raising his hands to look at him.

"I'm alive.." His voice was an awed whisper. "And I'm human!!" Sudden joy coursed through his being, and he hugged Kagi to him, kissing the top of her head. She raised her head to look at him, eyes shining with tears. "You're crying again.." He said softly, gently brushing the tears off of her cheek.

"I'm.. I'm just so happy.." She whispered, smiling. "You're alive Tora, you're alive, and you're here, and you're human.. I.. It's like a dream come true.." She brushed her tears away furiously, suddenly embarrassed. "I'm sorry, Tora..."

"Sorry for what?" Tora asked, gently catching her hands, smiling as he tilted her chin back up to look at her.

"I.." She began, but then blushed, unable to finish her thought, unable to tear her eyes away from his.

"Don't be sorry for anything.." He whispered, and gently held her to him, leaning down to gently capture her lips with his. She closed her eyes and leaned against him, trembling with joy. He pulled away a bit, looking down into her violet eyes, and then kissed her again.

It wasn't until they heard a gentle giggle they realized once again that they weren't alone. Blushing, Kagi slowly stood, offering her hand to help Tora up. He stood and looked around, his eyes falling on Selene. She looked at him in reply, watching, almost as if she were waiting for him to condemn her again.

Then, Tora dropped to his knee before her, bowing his head. "Thank you, Selene."

Selene's eyes widened slightly, and then she drew him up into a gentle hug. "Welcome to the family, dear Tora."

Then Tora turned back to Kagi, gently putting his arm around her shoulders. Looking around, his eyes fell on the pedestal. The orb had shattered, and lying amongst the shards of glass was a beautiful red rose, just beginning to bloom. He released Kagi to walk to it, taking the rose into his hand. Turning back to Kagi, he tenderly kissed her, holding the rose out for her.

Wordlessly, she took it, holding it to her heart as she looked up at him, eyes shining with joy. Then, quietly, she wrapped her arm around his waist. Putting his arm about their shoulders, Tora looked around at all of them.

"Thank you. All of you... Now.." He looked down at Kagi, smiling as he said quietly, "let's go home."


~*~
WELL. That's it! The end! That's all! Did you like it? Did you hate it? WHAT?? Please tell me! :) Remember, that address, what was it? Ah yes, amby-chan@sailormoon.com.. See? Email me!

Thanks, keep smiling.. I hope you enjoyed it!

Watch out for the next strange and unusual fanfic coming your way, from Amby's computer screen to yours! Until then!

Sincerely,
Amby-chan a.k.a. Lady Ambre