Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Power Of Fire ❯ Chapter 22

Makoto winced on the floor, Venus's arms trying to protect her as Susanoo's attack sent them spiralling back into the desolate hallway.

"Stop it!" screamed Michiru angrily, "SUBMARINE REFLECTION!"

"What?! You can't use your abilities in civilian form!" screeched Susanoo furiously.

"Actually, as long as you're using my abilities I can!" taunted back Michiru, a grim smile on her face as she stood up in front of Haruka and the dieing Usagi.

"Ami! Wake up! WAKE UP!" Mars pleaded as she tried to hold up Ami's head, it wearily dropping back down again at each attempt.

"You'll pay for that!" screamed Susanoo, stepping forward, swinging out his arms wildly at Michiru.

Dodging Susanoo's arms Michiru attacked again, "SUBMARINE REFLECTION!"

"WORLD SHAKING" counter-attacked Fujin, his civilian form of Furo-Ien lying on the floor.

"Don't you dare use my powers against her!" yelled Haruka angrily, jostling Usagi as she fought the urge to protect Michiru.

"COSMIC MOON POWER!"

The sudden attack threw everyone back; Mars sheltered the unconscious Ami in her arms while Haruka tensed against Usagi's body, taking majority of the blast as Chibi Moon stood with a terrifying look on her face in the doorway clearly holding the Moon Stick that Sailor Moon had used long ago to defeat Queen Beryl.

Susanoo and Fujin fell to their knees under the power of the attack, their forms morphing back into the pale, scarred figures they had been before.

"Heal them…" whispered Usagi weakly as she struggled to raise her head in Haruka's protective arms.

Chibi Moon nodded as stray tears flew their way down her cheeks.

"MOON HEALING ESCALATION!"

Susanoo's mouth opened in a horrified silent scream while Fujin's body rocked under the force.

Just as Susanoo and Fujin were both about to be knocked unconscious by the pressure the soft voice of Saturn interrupted…

"Silence Wall…"

"Saturn, what're you doing?" screamed Haruka, as Usagi's eyelids fluttered in her feeble attempts to keep breathing.

"They need to heal themselves and come willingly just as Omoikane and Izanami did," replied Saturn sternly, calling off her defence.

"Izanami…" whispered Susanoo, suddenly realising that she was no longer with them.

"Setsuna has Izanami, and if I'm correct she won't be bringing her back," said Saturn calmly, clearly unfazed by the older soldier's actions.

"What do you mean?!" hissed Fujin, his shoulders hunched as the after affects of Chibi Moon's attacks still drained at him.

"Setsuna does not want what has happened to Ami and Makoto to happen to anyone else. Michiru and Haruka are deadly close, as was I until Setsuna took Izanami. If I'm correct Setsuna has probably moved Izanami to a completely different time," said Saturn, her hands obviously tightening on her glaive as she spoke.

Susanoo sneered, "I get it now, we can only become one if both of us want to." Susanoo turned to Fujin, "Looks like we'll be living a lot longer than Izanagi and Izanami expected."

Fujin head was bowed and a small sad smile rested on his face, his eyes having rolled back into his head as he felt the flood of memories and emotions that Haruka had sent his way.

"You might," replied Fujin, his voice full of sorrow as he pushed himself upwards, the love that Haruka held for Michiru swelling in his chest till it was nearly unbearable.

"What are you doing Fujin!" hissed Susanoo, instantly noticing the change in Fujin's attitude.

"Izanami knew it; so did Omoikane and Izanagi in the end, and now I do too," said Fujin softly, "We were never any match for them Susanoo. We had long forgotten why we were chosen above all others, but I can feel it now."

"They're tricking you Fujin!" hissed Susanoo backing away from his ally with a disgusted look on his face, "And what makes you think you're worth it anyway! So full of sin as you are!"

"They can forgive us," whispered Fujin bowing his head.

"You don't think you're worthy," murmured Michiru, finally understanding the despair she had been enveloped with lately.

"You keep your thoughts out of this you wench!" screeched Susanoo, his eyes shooting wildly around the room.

"You only wanted to re-birth the world so that you could feel better about your own sins," said Saturn calmly, "But if you conjoin with us in a positive way and allow us to use your strength we can save you from your won corruption."

"Argh! Stop this idiocy!" Susanoo's body showed his weakness as it slowly aged, the hair disintegrating, "Fujin!"

Susanoo looked unnerved as Fujin slowly walked over and reached out to place his hand into Haruka's already up-raised palm.

"No! Fujin!" Susanoo's cry was weak as he fell to his knees.

"Trust me Susanoo…" whispered Fujin as he gently placed his hand in Haruka's, his form instantly disappearing and a ragged scream coming from Haruka's throat, startling Usagi slightly.

Haruka curled back over Usagi in pain as Michiru raced forward, her hands protectively finding their way around Haruka's shoulders as she pressed her face close to Haruka's.

"It's your fault!" hissed Susanoo, trying to strike Saturn down but failing miserably as she flung her glaive between them.

"No, it's your fault Susanoo. You couldn't give Fujin real love, not like he felt when he accepted Uranus," Saturn's voice was stern and harsh as she spoke.

"LIAR!" Susanoo's voice cut out at the end as his arms and legs shook at the sheer effort of holding him upright still.

"You're going to die Susanoo, unless you accept what's happening," said Saturn, looking down as Susanoo's limbs finally gave out.

"I can survive!" exclaimed Susanoo weakly, trying to find purchase on the ground to push himself back up.

"No, you can't," replied Saturn obstinately as the last of Susanoo's energy gave up and he lay unconscious on the floor.

"Haruka…" Michiru's sob was answered by a pained smile from Haruka as she tried to lift herself and Usagi from the ground.

"Mama," cried out Chibi Moon, dropping the Moon Stick on the ground unthinkingly and running over to Usagi's twitching body.

"We need to get her to the hospital!" Haruka exclaimed, finally finding the energy to push herself upwards.

 

~~~~~

 

Rei lay down on the hospital bed, as close to Ami as she could possibly be as the nurses checked her over for the routine hourly check-up.

"Her vitals are picking up," said the nurse confidently, giving Rei a small smile of encouragement.

"Thanks," whispered Rei, giving the nurse back a smile.

Wincing as she moved Rei tugged Ami into her arms, small tears rolling down her face as the dull thud of Ami's heartbeat forced itself around her body, the rhythm of it causing friction to stir between her burns and the rough material of the borrowed clothes.

"How is she Rei?" asked Minako, walking into the room with a limping Makoto behind her.

"She's getting better they said," replied Rei, "She's just exhausted."

"She would have to be," laughed back Minako, trying to lighten the mood.

"How's Usagi?" asked Rei as concern flitted across her face.

"Not so good, she's still critical and her parents haven't let Mamoru or any of us in to see her yet. I still don't think they buy our story," said Minako lightly.

"I wouldn't either," laughed Rei sadly, as she curled her fingers in Ami's hair.

"Any idea how Ami released Omoikane again?" asked Makoto softly.

"No… But the way Omoikane said it made me think that it has less to do with Ami," said Rei uneasily.

"What do you mean by that?" questioned Minako, sitting on the side of the bed.

"Nothing really," murmured back Rei.

 

~~~~~

 

Michiru pressed the hot washcloth against Haruka's forehead again as she writhed in agony.

"It'll be over soon," said Saturn standing by the door to Michiru and Haruka's bedroom.

"Are you sure?" asked Michiru worriedly as another spasm rocked through Haruka's already wretched body.

"Positive," she replied.

"Can you tell me something Saturn?" asked Michiru.

"Depends what it is," said Saturn, wondering what would be on Michiru's mind.

"What side were you really on?" questioned Michiru, looking down at her hands.

"I was on neither. I knew the risk of conjoining us again and I also knew the risk of letting them go unchecked but as long as they joined us in a peaceful manner I knew we should have no problems but I needed to know some other information before I could put my actions into affect," replied Saturn sternly.

"What type of information?" asked Michiru, not really sure if she wanted to know.

"That's personal," said Saturn, instantly cutting off any further talking on the topic.

"Michiru…" Haruka's pained moan was quiet but easily heard in the silence of the apartment.

"Haruka," said Michiru in reply softly, a small sob breaking through.

"I remember it now…" murmured Haruka to no one in particular.

Michiru slowly stroked Haruka's face lovingly, placing a small kiss on her lover's lips.

"I always loved you…" continued Haruka, a small but painful smile bracing her lips.

Another choked sob escaped Michiru as she hugged Haruka, her fingernails digging into the flesh on Haruka's neck in her intensity.

"Haruka…" sobbed Michiru in relief that Haruka really was going to be okay.

 

~~~~~

 

"She'll be okay Mamo-Chan. I'm still here so she'll be okay," said Chibiusa trying to comfort Mamoru as they both sat uncomfortably in the plastic hospital chairs.

"I just wish they would let me see her," said Mamoru, speaking into his hands, the anxiety clear in his voice.

"I'm sure we'll be able to see her soon," replied Chibiusa, hugging Mamoru, trying to encourage him to look up.

"I hope so," whispered Mamoru, a solitary tear slipping down his face.

 

~~~~~

 

Makoto looked down at Ami; she could feel the emotions welling up before they escaped her.

Oh, Ami, thought Makoto tiredly, her two selves fighting against each other. How can I care so much for two people? Makoto questioned herself as one part of her mind noticed how slim Minako's waist was while another part just wanted to reach out and softly trace her fingertips over Ami's swollen lips.

Argh! This is going to tear me apart! Thought Makoto angrily as the emotions continued to war inside of her. I've got to get out of here! The thought screamed in her mind as she hurriedly tried to hobble her way out of the hospital unit.

"Mako-Chan," came Minako's soft voice, the worry so evident that it broke Makoto's heart in two when she heard it.

"Go away Minako," said Makoto gently, one party of her inner war throttling her around as she felt the words sting at Minako.

"Ah… Okay," said Minako, her voice tight as though she were going to cry at any moment.

Makoto sighed, she didn't really want Minako to go away but she also wanted to be alone so much that even the walls felt as though they were too much company.

Where could I possibly go? Makoto asked herself. I need something normal, she thought as the hospital staff stared at her vain attempts at movement.

"Would you like some help Miss?" asked one of the nurses, grabbing hold of Makoto's crutch worriedly.

"I'm fine thanks," replied Makoto sharply, obviously blind-sighting the nurse with her reply.

"Okay then," said the nurse, going back to her station.

Argh! This is impossible! Exclaimed Makoto in her head as another painful barrage of images pounded against her skull.

Now I know why Ami was so insane! It's almost impossible to be normal with all this in here!

Makoto eventually made her way out of the hospital, looking down the streets, hoping to find a sign pointing her in the right direction.

Lucky as she was, Makoto soon found the sign.

Sighing happily Makoto fumbled her way down the sidewalk and into the small shopping market on the corner, allowing all the tantalising aromas to tease her nostrils.

This is all I need, thought Makoto, happiness swelling in her and temporarily stifling the horrid images that were bombarding her.

 

~~~~~

 

"What are you doing with me!" Izanami's voice was growing weaker as Setsuna tried to find the perfect time and place to hide her.

"I'm not going to let you conjoin with Saturn, not ever!" growled Setsuna angrily; flinging Izanami to the ground in the hideous jungle she had taken them too.

"And what about you Pluto? Aren't you going to find your missing piece?" questioned Izanami angrily as she climbed back to her feet to face Setsuna, her teeth barred in fury.

"No," replied Setsuna coldly as she took a step back from Izanami.

"Wait, you can't leave me here!" screeched Izanami as she finally figured out what Setsuna was planning on doing.

"Just watch me," replied Setsuna as she disappeared, leaving Izanami in the dark, constricting forest.