SAILORMOON: DARK JEWEL by: Marie Kelly CHAPTER 6 The black hair was spread gracefully upon the futon, the dark eyes were gently closed, the beathing was soft and shallow. Rei opened her eyes and sighed despondently. What time was it? Squinting, she glanced at her alarm clock. 3:16. She had tried the last thing she could think of. It did not work. She had not expected it to work, but there was nonetheless a sense of disappointment. Nothing worked...not counting sheep, not a glass of warm milk, nothing. She simply could not sleep. The evil. Fear coursed through the Shinto Shrine Maiden's body, as she thought of the evil. There was something...different...about this evil. She had sensed it again, though she could not remember where. It was subtle, yet of such *incredible* power. "I...I have to do a fire reading," she whispered. "I cannot...I cannot...cannot sleep..until I find out the nature of this evil...this evil..." She padded on bare feet down the hall, tiptoeing when she came to her grandfather's room. Careful now...careful. If the old man woke up, and saw what she was doing... {I know Grandfather doesn't want me to do any more fire readings," she thought. {But Minako's gone. And I have this strong suspicion that the evil I sensed before is somehow involved.} "Rei-san," she felt a hand on her shoulder and, to exaggerate slightly, nearly jumped out of her skin. "What are you doing?" She turned around to see a young man, in about his mid twenties, with a few days growth of beard on his chin and shaggy brown hair that fell in his eyes. "Yu--Yuuichirou," Rei stuttered. "Hello." "Rei-san, what are you doing up so late?" he asked her. "I might ask you the same thing!" Rei snapped. "I'm going to do a fire reading." "No way." Yuuichirou didn't even bother to try and answer the first part of her statement. "Your grandfather said not to." "So?" Rei was faintly aware of how disrespectful this must sound, and hoped to clear it up later, but now there were more important things to be done. "I have to do a fire reading. You wouldn't understand." Living on the streets, as he had done before he became a disciple, had given Yuuichirou speed for he was fast, faster than she, and soon he blocked the doorway to the room the Sacred Fire was enshrined it. "Yuuichirou," Rei was nearly begging. "You have to let me in. I sense this new and powerful evil. If I can't do a fire reading, I may not learn what it is." A third voice entered the conversation. "And is this new evil what you sensed when you did the fire reading before?" "Hai." As soon as that one syllable left her lips, Rei knew she had erred. "That's it." Her grandfather might have been one of the shortest men in existance, but he had remarkable will, will which had saved his life before. "You are most certainly *not* to do any more fire readings. I thought I had made that perfectly clear." "But Grandfather!" Rei cried. "No buts, young lady. I am responsible for your safety, you know that. If anything were to happen--" Her grandfather lost his composure and began weeping openly. "If anything were to happen to you! Oh, Rei! What would happen to the shrine?" Rei pulled back. "So, is this just the shrine you're worried about?" she snapped. "Fine!" She whirled on her ankles. "I'll go to bed now. But you can't watch me all the time. I *will* do a fire reading!" {Forgive me, Grandfather,} she thought with wet cheeks. Usagi laughed nervously. Something must be wrong with her hearing. "I--I must have misheard you," she giggled. "I thought you said that Mako-chan was wanted for murder." The policeman didn't smile. "I did." "There must be a mistake--!" Usagi protested. "Mako-chan would never kill anybody." "Evidence is against it." "NOOOOO!!!!" Usagi shouted furiously. "She's the best friend I've ever had! She has never done anything wrong, ever!" "Usagi, darling," her mother knelt by her. "It's wonderful that you want to protect your friend, but it's not for the best." She put her arms around her daughter's shoulders. "Usagi-chan, if you know where she is, please tell us. Society is not safe with her around." Anger filled Usagi, and she pushed her mother away. "NO! I don't know where she is! But I do know she's innocent! Mako-chan would never hurt anybody!" The policeman closed his eyes. "Well, Tsukino-san, if you remember where your friend is, please be kind enough to inform us. That is all." Not saying another word, he left. "Usagi, I am ashamed of your behavior. It's that awful Kino-san's influence." "Mako-chan isn't a bad influence." "She's such a violent, horrible girl. I have always preferred Naru-chan." "I don't care what you prefer." "USAGI!" "I'm sorry, Mother." Usagi turned her back on her mother. "Usagi, where are you going?" "I'm going to my room. I want to be alone." Usagi started walking up the stairs. "Tsukino Usagi! I am not done talking to you!" "I don't want to talk to you, mother," Usagi whispered to herself. She silently entered her room. "I don't want to talk to anybody." Weakly, she flopped down on the bed. "Mako-chan," she wept. "What happened? Mako-chan...." ::Is she conscious yet?:: Groggily, she lifted up her head. "Who's saying that?" There was light laughter. "You were right! They do lack imagination! I must admit, I am rather disappointed. This one was so gullible." Another voice entered the conversation. "She was not the intelligent one. You know how easily she fell for the little trick." "Too easily. Such gullibility is not a good thing." "Perhaps not for her, but, dear sister, it is a most profitable thing for you." Trick? Makoto's mind clouded. What trick? She tried to remember what had brought her here, but couldn't. "Ought I to give them to her? It would only make her miserable." There came cruel laughter. "It would only torture her further. She has only a few seconds left. Why hurt her more?" "Very well. Then I shall." It was another night at home alone. At times it was rather lonely, but she didn't complain. Complaining did no good, and only served to remind her of what she didn't have. "Come on, Mako-chan, chin up," she ordered herself, puttering around her kitchen. "What shall you have for dinner tonight? Let's see....how does stir fry sound? Easy, not too messy. Sounds great. A yummy dinner for one!" Makoto began gathering together the ingredients as the phone rang. "Eeek!" she screamed, precariously balancing together several vegetables and spices. "Don't stop! I'm coming! I'm coming." She managed to knock the phone off the hook and, using her shoulder to balance it, answer. "Moshi moshi." "Hello, Kino-san." Makoto gasped, dropping the food to the floor. That voice! {Can't be,} she thought. "Yes?" "Kino-san, it's me." "Senpai..." "Can I come over to your house? I want to talk to you about some things." Makoto blanched. Her senpai wanted to talk to her? But why? "Y...yes," she blurted out. "Do you know my address?" "I do. I'll be there in five minutes. Goodbye, Kino-san." Makoto stood there, holding the phone, disbelieving. What was her senpai doing? She had neither seen nor talked to him in months. Not since that rainy afternoon so long ago... "FOOD!" she screamed, hanging up the phone. "I have to make food! This place is an absolute mess! I have to clean up!" She ran around, wildly rubbing at any stain she might find with a wet washcloth and putting the vegetables away. {Why do I care?} she asked, briskly filling a whistling kettle with water. There wasn't enough time to make a decent meal, so tea would have to do. She put it on the stove and lit the burner. {Why am I making him tea? Why does he want to see me?} She still had many unresolved feelings for him. The doorbell rang. "Yes!" she yelled. "I'm coming." Makoto gave one final survey of the apartment, decided it was clean enough, and opened the door. He was more handsome than she remembered. His dark brown hair fell lightly into his eyes, which were the palest blue color. His body was lithe and muscular, and he was wearing a simple outfit--jeans and a white T-shirt a'la James Dean. Her legs turned to cooked spaghetti, and she put one hand on the doorknob to steady herself. "Mako-chan, I'm glad you're here." He smiled warmly at her. "Yes," Makoto agreed, blushing furiously. She quickly remembered her manners. "Would you like to come in?" She gestured the way in. Her senpai said nothing but simply entered. "This place looks nice. Where did you get all the decorations?" "Oh, I go to rummage sales. You can get great stuff there, you know." Makoto didn't quite like the way she was acting towards him, but she couldn't help it. He had that sort of an effect on her. "I'm making tea," she babbled. "What flavor would you like? Regular? Lemon? Chamomile?--" Her senpai smiled warmly. "Regular will be fine. Kino-san, I--" "Oh, that's great!" Makoto smiled happily, purposely ignoring that he had been about to say something else. "Is there another snack you'd like? I've got lots of great stuff. Maybe some crackers with cheese? I could whip up some nice appetizers." Steam passed through the tea kettle, causing a piercing whistle. "Oh! There's the tea! I'll go get it! Wait here!" Smiling, she backed up to the kitchen, entered, and closed the door. {Stupid Mako-chan!} She thought a barrage of expletives aimed at herself. Why did she have to act like that towards him? Why hadn't she just let him tell him why he had come? {Because,} she thought, tears dripping down her face. {He hurt me.} Shaking, she removed two teacups and saucers from a cabinet. She picked up the kettle and began pouring the water. {He hurt me. I don't want to see him.} She removed two teabags and put them in. Normally, she preferred to use loose tea leaves, but had no intention of bothering right now. {I should have said no.} She threw away the used tea bags, put the cups and saucer on a tray, wiped her eyes dry, and exited the kitchen. "Senpai?" She looked around for him. "Here." A voice came from a small alcove which could be termed the living room. There was a small couch...barely room enough for two--and a coffee table next to it. Her senpai was on the couch. So, it appeared that she would have to sit next to him. Closing her eyes, Makoto whispered a silent prayer to Kami-sama. She opened her eyes, smiled, and began walking towards him. "You look beautiful, Kino-san." {No!} Makoto almost tripped, but quickly righted herself. "Kino-san!" Her senpai looked concerned. "Are you all right, Kino-san?" Makoto forced herself to smile. "I'm just a little clumsy, I guess. Tripped over my own two feet." She giggled lightly. "So, here's the tea." She placed it on the coffee table and stood next to it, worrying. She did *not* want to sit next to her senpai, yet to remain standing would be awkward. "Kino-san, I want to talk to you." Makoto tried to change the conversation. "Look, your tea's getting cold! You had better drink it now, hmmm?" "Kino-san, you know I didn't come over here for tea." "Yes." She looked down. "I've come to apologize." Makoto gasped and her vision blackened. He had...he had actually come to apologize. For so many weeks in the past, she had dreamt of this day. And now that it was here...she hardly knew how to react. She weakly fell to her knees. "Kino-san?" Her senpai reached up and touched her shoulder, causing Makoto to draw away. "Please," she whispered. "Don't touch me." "I'm sorry, Kino-san. I truly am." He sounded regretful. "I don't accept your apology." Even Makoto was surprised at those words which had come from her mouth. "Kino-san!" "No." Makoto looked at him. "I can't forgive you now. You hurt me too much." She smiled sadly. "You hurt me." "Kino-san, I know. I--" "NO, YOU DON'T!!!" Makoto interrupted him furiously. "You don't know how I felt! You don't know what went through my mind! You don't know anything, senpai!" "Kino-san..." Her senpai reached out his hand, which caused her to draw back. "No..." she repeated. "I can't forgive you. I loved you," she whispered. "I've never felt love before. And when I told you, and you said you loved me, too...well, I felt that I was in heaven." She smiled in remembrance. "I hadn't felt so happy since...well since my parents were alive. I was in love, the boy I loved loved me...all was great." She grinned ironically and turned her back on him. "I was wrong, wasn't I? You never loved me. All you were ever concerned about was your reputation. Remember when you broke up with me? Remember why?" He gave no reply, so she continued speaking. "I wasn't good enough for you. I didn't have a proper family. I didn't have any family. I wasn't rich. I had a reputation for violence. Surely, that reputation would muddy yours. I had to understand, people respected you, and any romantic involvement with me would ruin that respect, and I wouldn't want that, would I?" She turned to him, eyes flashing. "I died again that day. But I smiled and pretended it didn't matter." She paused. "I smiled and pretended it didn't matter." "Kino-san, you're right." "What?" Makoto glared at him. "Please, don't say that if you don't mean it." Her senpai dropped his head. "It's not easy to say this, but I was wrong. I was a jerk. Kino-san, I don't expect you to forgive me, but I was hoping things could be like they were before?" He smiled hopefully at her. Makoto shook her head and picked up her tea cup. She sipped it before she replied. "Things can't be like they were before. They can never be." They sat quietly drinking tea, with an awkward silence around them. Makoto noticed the tea tasted odd, and decided she must have been really out of it--she couldn't even make decent tea from a bag. She cursed her senpai for making her heart race, mostly with anger. "Senpai," she whispered, her mouth dry. "I'm hot. Would you mind if I turned on a fan?" "Of course not, Kino-san. It's your apartment, after all." "Thank you." Makoto got up and began walking towards the fan. For some reason, she felt weak, and was breathing heavily. "Senpai...I..." She collapsed to her knees. "I don't feel too well." "Really?" His voice sounded unusually cold. "Senpai...could you help me up, please?" Her senpai laughed quietly. "No, Kino-san, I like watching you." "Senpai..." The pain was getting worse, and her vision was blurring. "I don't understand." He smiled. "You wouldn't." Kino looked up, and saw him staring at her, with a cruel smile and pupilless ice blue eyes. "You are so beautiful. Your death deserves to have poetry written about it." "Death?" Makoto managed to choke out the word. Was she dying? But ...why? He answered her unasked question. "Don't worry, it's nothing you did. I merely have to kill you. No hard feelings, I hope." {No hard feelings!} Makoto would have expressed her fury, only she was too weak and confused. Nothing made sense! Why was her senpai murdering her? What did he have to gain from it? Was that her senpai...and, if not, who was it? "I am your senpai, Kino-san. I am not some evil demon who has taken his form. Nor am I a ghost who has possessed him. I am he." Makoto closed her eyes. "Senpai..." she whispered. Despite what he said, this man was not him...at least, not him as he truly was. "I... I love you," she gasped, convulsed, and died. Makoto heard the quiet laughter. "Did you like that, dearest Mako-chan? Did you?" She stood up, her hands balled into fists, wishing desperately she could see whomever was talking...see so she could hit that damned thing! "Senpai..." she whispered. "Yes." The voice sounded terribly familiar. "He was very useful to us. He died willingly." "Died...?" "But of course. Father's...voice in this world...told him to kill himself after killing you, for he had no more use." Makoto was horrified. "No," she whispered. "You should be glad he's dead. Didn't you hate him? We did you a favor." "He...he apologized..." "That was merely an excuse. You hated him. You would not forgive him. Why are you defending him?" "Because..." Tears dripped from the corner of Makoto's eyes. "I--I still love him." "Love? How pathetic." "I LOVE HIM!!!" Makoto screamed. "He's a jerk, but I love him. I tried not to, I tried to hate him, but I can't! I don't forgive him, but I love him! How dare you! How dare you use him! How dare you!! Come out here!" She took a fighting stance. "Come out and fight if you're not chicken!" "You're too violent, Mako-chan, that's the problem. You've already lost." A smile curled upwards. "You were the second to lose." A figure stepped out of the shadows. Makoto gasped and stepped backwards. "Sailorvenus!" Sailorvenus raised one delicate eyebrow. "Sailorvenus? Is that who you think I am?" Makoto narrowed her eyes. "You look like her." "Of course," Sailorvenus giggled lightly. "I would look like her." Makoto began breathing heavily, angry. "Who are you? And what did you do to Minako-chan?" "I destroyed her soul and took control of her body. I am Tsrif." "NOOOO!!!" Rage filled Makoto and she ran towards the creature that had stolen Minako's body. "GIVE IT BACK!!" Tsrif laughed and sent a Crescent Beam into Makoto's chest. Makoto gasped and was thrown backwards. "Mako-chan, you are humorous!" "You won't get me," Makoto swore, weakly. She forced herself to her feet and glared at the false Sailorvenus. "I agree. I don't want you. I have this body, and it is very nice indeed. My sister will have your body, though." "Not if I can help it," Makoto growled. "You think you can defeat her? Minako tried to defeat me, and failed miserably. It was rather disappointing how easy it was to destroy her soul." "Wait, dearest sister. Do not attack her further." "Dnoces! You aren't supposed to come out yet!" Tsrif sounded angry. "You agreed I could have a bit of fun with her first!" "And I did. But she interests me. She is quite spirited. She attacked you even when untransformed. Even when she knew you had the powers of Venus, she still stood up to you. Aren't you impressed?" "A bit." "I am incredibly impressed. In fact, I believe I shall make a deal with this one." The false Venus raised her eyebrows. "A deal?" "Yes. A fight." Makoto was not altogether surprised to see her double come out of the shadows. The only difference was that her double was dressed as her alter ego, Sailorjupiter. "Makoto-san, I shall make a deal with you. I will let you go, and not attack you for two weeks, if you can defeat yourself in battle." "What do you mean?" Makoto was suspicious. "Simple. You shall transform into Sailorjupiter. Then you, as Sailorjupiter, shall fight me, as Sailorjupiter. If I am victorious, your body shall be mine and your soul destroyed. If you are victorious, however, I shall let you be freed for an entire two weeks. I cannot let you go forever, but that should be enough time to tell your friends about what happened to Minako-chan. I daresay Rei-san or Ami-san might be able to do something with that knowledge, hmmm?" She paused. "I don't see that you have any other choice, Mako-chan. I shall fight only as Sailorjupiter, and not use any 'special' powers. If you accept, you have a chance of winning. If not, you are doomed. Come, make your decision." Dnoces was right. There was really no decision to be made. She reached deep into her pocket, until her hand closed around a pen. She removed it, raised it above her head, and shouted with all the strength she could muster, "JUPITER POWER, MAKE UP!"