Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Power Of Fire ❯ Chapter 23

Michiru stood over the crippled form of Susanoo, her fingers moving out the creases from the aged skin.

As Michiru tried to will the transformation she found nothing new and sighed. Why can't you let us help you? Questioned Michiru of the man, not expecting any answer.

Because I don't want your help! The reply was weak by sure of itself as it thrashed out at Michiru's mind.

You're going to die, said Michiru calmly showing him a picture of how he appeared to her.

And like it would be so much better to be conjoined again, came the angry reply.

You never know, thought Michiru softly as she turned away, going to check on Haruka again but the voice interrupted her.

Can you feel Fujin? The voice was soft and caring and the way it flooded her mind shocked Michiru, it had the same feel as her love for Haruka.

Yes, replied Michiru comfortingly as she let Susanoo feel Haruka's energy and how it was intermingled in her counterpart's former energy.

You could feel him again if you wanted to, continued Michiru warmly suddenly realising just how much in common all the soldiers had with their counterparts.

But it wouldn't be him! Spat back the voice disgruntled at the pity he felt from Michiru.

You won't know until you try, reasoned Michiru walking away, leaving the dying Susanoo to his thoughts.

"Michi-Chan…" whispered Haruka, a small smile on her lips as she lay exhausted in bed, only able to move her head to watch Michiru enter the room.

Michiru smiled down at Haruka as she moved to sit on the side of the bed, cupping Haruka's face in her hands.

"I was afraid it would never stop," whispered Haruka, her smile faltering.

"You should have never stopped running Haru-Chan," murmured Michiru sadly, recalling how obstinately Haruka had tried to escape their destiny when they had first met.

"But if I hadn't stopped I wouldn't have you Michi-Chan," replied Haruka.

"Are you sure that's enough though?" questioned Michiru, her body reeling as the painful images from their past raced through her mind right up to an image only implanted hours ago of Haruka writhing on the floor in agony.

"Yes, it always was," answered Haruka trying to lean upwards.

Michiru read Haruka's actions and leant down, wrapping her arms around Haruka's neck to plant a soft kiss on Haruka's lips.

"You've no idea how long I've been waiting for that," laughed Haruka tiredly.

Michiru's eyebrows rose, "What do you mean?"

"You'll understand when you and Susanoo conjoin again," whispered Haruka her eyelids fluttering in her attempts to stay awake.

"Haru-Chan…" whispered Michiru worriedly as Haruka again fell back into unconsciousness.

You've no idea how long I've been waiting for that… The words echoed in Michiru's mind, sent from the man lying on her lounge.

Then why wait any longer? Asked Michiru.

You'll find out why eventually, whispered the voice as Michiru felt an odd tugging motion around her body, causing her to let go of Haruka, her eyes flying open wide as the link that had bound her to Haruka broke, it's flimsy cords lying limp inside of her, instantly being replaced by something closer to metal. It was no longer a cord simply tying her to Haruka, something she could undo, but it was something more, like a thousand wires of metal sewn into her skin an angry points, something she couldn't remove.

Michiru wrenched backwards as the theoretical wires inside of her were pulled against the skin they marked, her voice coming out in a gurgled groan as Susanoo entered her body, the wires breaking from her skin and binding her in a way she had never thought possible, because although the wires that had suddenly appeared no longer connected her to Haruka there was something so much more definite in the puncture holes they left.

Now you understand… whispered Susanoo before disappearing into the expanse of Michiru's mind, his voice was instantly taken over by millions of others. Michiru fell forward as unconsciousness swallowed her.

 

~~~~~

 

Makoto fell to the ground, the few food she had bought from the shopping market floundering to the ground in their plastic bag.

"What's going on…" groaned out Makoto as she felt her limbs being stretched backwards.

"Mako-Chan!" called out Minako.

How did she know where I was? The question rolled through Makoto's body as an angry spasm tore through her.

These aren't like the rest! Exclaimed Makoto as her body was flung up into the air, rocketing back to the ground in an instant.

"MAKOTO!" Minako's voice was a scream in her ears.

If she screams like that somebody's going to notice, thought Makoto until she realised the thing that had brought her crashing back to earth was Minako's restraining arms.

"Get off me Minako!" screeched Makoto in agony as she felt her muscles compulsively flex.

Minako's hands instantly dropped her and Makoto felt the freedom of being weightless for a moment before she opened her eyes and saw images hit her fair in the face.

"Argh!" The high-pitched, screaming moan that escaped her was something that hurt even her own eardrums as she felt the familiar pull of the transformation, but this time she didn't want it.

"Jupiter," called a familiar voice, a face, similar to her's implanting itself in her mind.

"Jupiter…" whispered back Makoto, taking a look down at her body. It's like what happened to Ami, thought Makoto barely comprehending what was coming next.

Makoto blinked and then all the weightlessness disappeared and she was thrown back to the ground again, this time feeling as though she were weighing tonnes.

Makoto groaned as she felt the wind on her skin, all of it exposed in the grim daylight.

"Mako-Chan," whispered Minako, whether to the fact of Makoto's transformation or her nudity, Makoto couldn't tell but all she could feel was the warm pressure of the summer winds all over her.

"Minako…" whispered Makoto, forgetting how rude she had recently been to Minako just moments before.

"It's okay Mako-Chan," said Minako softly in her ear as Makoto slowly opened her eyes.

Makoto stared in shock at the face above her, it was a face she knew from so long ago but it was different, more worn. "My love…" murmured Makoto before the blackness enveloped her again.

 

~~~~~

 

Chibiusa laid down on the hospital bed beside Usagi, Mamoru on the other side as he gingerly took both of Usagi's hands in his.

"I love you," whispered Mamoru softly as Usagi's eyelids fluttered, her heartbeat on the monitor picking up.

Usagi smiled wearily with her eyes still closed, "I was afraid I had lost you Mamo-Chan," she whispered lovingly.

"Mama," sobbed Chibiusa into Usagi's hair that was fanned about her face like a golden halo.

"And you too Chibiusa," said Usagi, trying a weak laugh but ending up coughing instead.

"Do you want to speak to your parents Usagi?" asked Mamoru, well aware that her family was right outside the door.

"Not yet, I just want to lay with my family for awhile," said Usagi, a small smile gracing her lips as her heartbeat dulled again.

Mamoru kissed Usagi's cheek softly, placing one arm around Chibiusa and pulling both of them into a soft hug.

 

~~~~~

 

Haruka felt it before she awoke; there was a hideous pulling sensation from every point in her body, like her skin was trying to rip itself apart.

"MICHIRU!" Cried out Haruka in pain but the hands that held her back were smaller and with less strength.

"Michiru's in bed herself," came Hotaru's familiar, child-like voice.

"ARGH!" Haruka's groan ripped through her as her back arched, the final end to the conjoining coming to completion.

"Just relax Papa, it will be over very soon," comforted Hotaru, no longer trying to restrain Haruka's wild movements.

Haruka tried to open her eyes but found her eyelids weighed down. Haruka could feel the power breaking her bones and tearing her muscles, then knitting them all back together again as it slowly but surely re-shaped her in someway.

"MICHIRU!" screamed out Haruka again as she felt her shoulders dislocate and then click back in repeatedly.

"It'll be okay soon Papa," whispered Hotaru, grabbing one of Haruka's hands.

Haruka grimaced and suddenly felt everything drop away but only for a second as a horrible weight came crashing down on her, causing one more wretched moan from her before she finally gave up in defeat.

"Now you're whole again Uranus," said Hotaru. Haruka tried to hold onto the present but failed as Hotaru placed a cool hand on her forehead, "You'll feel Neptune soon. Don't be scared."

Haruka tried to nod in agreement but all her will to move left her so she decided that the best thing to do was just to let the darkness consume her.

Uranus… Michiru's call… Neptune's call…

Neptune… Answered back Haruka happily as all traces of consciousness left her.

 

~~~~~

 

"Ami," sighed Rei as she saw the eyelids of her lover slowly flutter, her heartbeat registering with Rei's own as the monitor beeped loudly in the silent room.

"Rei," said Ami, suddenly sounding strong and sure as she opened her eyelids and turned her head to look at Rei who was huddled up uncomfortably on one of the hospital chairs.

"Ami, you're alright?" questioned Rei. Rei had been sure that Ami would've been out of it for awhile more and that when she had woken up she wouldn't have that much strength. Apparently I was wrong, thought Rei to herself as Ami pushed herself into a sitting position.

"I'm fine," replied Ami, obviously surprised herself how well she recovered and giving Rei a big smile before it faltered somewhat, "Ah, Rei you haven't been with me the whole time have you?"

Rei looked confused, "No I went and saw Grandpa. The doctors say he'll be ready to leave this afternoon," said Rei, wondering how on earth Ami would have known that.

Ami smiled slowly, shifting her pillows behind her back to make herself more comfortable. "That's great news Rei!" exclaimed Ami looking genuinely happy but Rei felt Ami was worried about something.

"Are you sure you're okay Ami-Chan?" asked Rei as she came over to sit on the bed, reaching out her hand to hold Ami's.

"I'm fine Rei-Chan. I promise," whispered back Ami sincerely, her voice and her actions reminding Rei of how caring and loving Ami had always been.

"It's all over now?" questioned Rei, obviously referring to Ami's past problems that had been tormenting her over the past two months.

"I'm absolutely fine. I can understand everything now," said Ami, her eyebrows lifting in surprise as if what had happened was the best present she could have ever received.

"Ami-Chan…" started Rei unsure of how she was going to address the question as she watched her and Ami's fingers dance around each other.

"Yes?" said Ami her eyebrows furrowing despite her bliss as she watched Rei bite her lip in anxiety.

"How did you free Omoikane again?" asked Rei finally, not sure whether Ami would answer her or not.

"I don't think I did," said Ami, pondering aloud she allowed her thoughts to swim their way through her and out of her mouth, "It was just something I felt, it wasn't me… It was like… It was like you… I just remembered how strong you always were in battle and it sort of gave me strength. I guess you could say that it was you who freed Omoikane. It was the power of fire…"

Ami's words lingered in the air as she looked down, her eyes concerning themselves with the crumpled rhythm of the blanket that was lying across her legs.

"Oh, Ami," whispered Rei as she pulled Ami into a tight hug, a solitary tear running down her cheek and onto Ami's own.

"You were really worried about me, weren't you Rei-Chan?" asked Ami into Rei's neck as she held Rei as close as she possibly could.

Rei winced as the strength of Ami's hug irritated the burns on her back and the way the material moved against the stitches still tightly wound into her skin.

"More than you could possibly imagine," replied Rei truthfully.

"I was worried," started Ami slowly as Rei pulled away somewhat, "That when I did conjoin with Omoikane that this would disappear."

Rei swallowed back, she had been afraid of the exact same thing. "And has it?" questioned Rei, terrified of the answer she might receive.

"No, it's made it more potent actually," laughed back Ami, a sadness in her eyes as she saw the apparent pain in Rei's.

Rei didn't know how to react, but the skin on her back was burning again from the irritation and grimace soon marked her face.

"Rei?" asked Ami worriedly, pulling back her arms from Rei's shoulders.

"Ami?" another voice interrupted the pair who were sitting incredibly close on the hospital bed.

Ami looked up, a bright grin spreading across her face, "Mama!"

"Ami, oh darling, I was so worried when they told me that you had been in hospital. Then I heard you were in here TWICE!" Saeko Mizuno's face was contorted with concern which was soon replaced with confusion as she took in the positions of both Rei and Ami on the bed.

Ami blushed in embarrassment but didn't flinch away from Rei like Rei thought she might have.

"I've missed you Mama," said Ami quietly, removing her hands from Rei's body as her mother came to sit in the plastic hospital chair in which Rei had previously been situated.

"I missed you too sweetie," replied Saeko, smiling at her daughter despite the initial surprise had received at seeing her and Rei so intimately posed together.

Rei sighed inwardly; glad that Saeko hadn't said anything about the particularly sensitive moment she had interrupted. Looks like we've got one more obstacle, thought Rei.