1.1 --- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
     1.2 +++ b/stories/cuh_cruc.txt	Fri Feb 19 06:24:59 2010 -0500
     1.3 @@ -0,0 +1,220 @@
     1.4 +Title: Crucifixion. 
     1.5 +
     1.6 +By Jerry-rose 
     1.7 +
     1.8 +Email: sleeping.soul@hotmail.co.uk 
     1.9 +
    1.10 +<AN: I'm still saying it xD But the Sailor soldiers aren't mine,
    1.11 +their Naoko's. And blah blah blah blah etc o.o Ok, this was inspired
    1.12 +by a dream I had. It's probably a little violent as per usual, so my
    1.13 +apologies but eh, you should be used to it by now :P Anyway feel free
    1.14 +to mail me with comments, criticism, compliments (ha yeah right x3)
    1.15 +or hey, flame me >3 anyways enjoy ^^> 
    1.16 +
    1.17 +Sailor Saturn was leaning against the roof door of the crystal
    1.18 +palace, her eyes narrowed as she shifted so her ear was pressed to
    1.19 +the door. She waited in silence and then sighed, nothing. 
    1.20 +"We're safe for now minna, it didn't follow us here." A few of the
    1.21 +Senshi nodded, but the others were leaning over King Endymion and
    1.22 +Queen Serenity. The king was kneeling on the ground with the Queen in
    1.23 +his arms, leaning over her protectively. She had a smile on her face,
    1.24 +however it was pained. As the King leant back it was obvious why,
    1.25 +half a broken off arrow was protruding from her chest, hampering her
    1.26 +breathing. Sailor Saturn stepped forward and the other Senshi cleared
    1.27 +a path to let her through, the King looked up as she knelt beside
    1.28 +them and rested Serenity flat of the floor as Sailor Saturn
    1.29 +signalled. She was not as good as she used to be at healing, as she'd
    1.30 +learnt well under Setsuna's teachings. Her healing took longer now,
    1.31 +but it meant she was able to recover quickly the energy lost. Her
    1.32 +hands reached out over Serenity and she hovered a hand over the
    1.33 +arrow. 
    1.34 +"Gomen ne, my queen, but I'll need to pull this out from beneath, so
    1.35 +the head isn't left inside…" Serenity nodded and Endymion took her
    1.36 +outstretched hand. Sailor Chibi-moon was standing behind Endymion and
    1.37 +looking over the three. Sailor Saturn looked up to her briefly and
    1.38 +then smiled encouragingly. Chibi-moon nodded and looked away as
    1.39 +Saturn dug her fingers deep into the wound, clasping the point of the
    1.40 +arrow and pulling it back the way it had come. She cried out in pain
    1.41 +and Saturn felt a pang of guilt, throwing the arrow aside she quickly
    1.42 +put her blood soaked hand over the wound, against the flesh, then her
    1.43 +clean over that one. She closed her eyes and began to concentrate.
    1.44 +With a quick flash of white light and then a soft glow she began the
    1.45 +long process of healing her Queen. A heavy bang against the door told
    1.46 +her that her time was almost up. She clenched her eyes tighter and
    1.47 +tried to focus as the banging became louder. Sailor Pluto put a hand
    1.48 +on her shoulder gently and squeezed. 
    1.49 +"Don't rush, Saturn, you know the consequence. Take the time you
    1.50 +need, we'll hold it off." Sailor Saturn nodded and unclenched her
    1.51 +eyes, relaxing as she went back to her focus. If she was interrupted
    1.52 +now, both she and the Queen could be in danger of loosing their
    1.53 +lives. The Outer Senshi knew the danger, as did Chibi-moon, and took
    1.54 +their stances in front of the door, the Inner Senshi taking places in
    1.55 +front of the King, Queen and Saturn. Sailor Saturn continued working
    1.56 +as the doors burst open, reducing the solid oak to kindling. The
    1.57 +Outer Senshi and Chibi-moon sprung into action, launching their
    1.58 +attacks simultaneously. The three Outer Senshi's combined as one and
    1.59 +hit it hard, the bright light blinding them before receding to show a
    1.60 +smoking youma. Chibi-moon's attack hit after and in a pink light the
    1.61 +youma was forced back out the door and sent spiralling down the large
    1.62 +marble staircase. Everyone stayed put, they knew it was a bad idea to
    1.63 +leave their protective circle, and so stuck close to the three behind
    1.64 +them. Sailor Saturn was almost finished, the wound reduced to a small
    1.65 +bleed. With a sigh she felt Serenity relax beneath her but knew it
    1.66 +wasn't over yet. They needed just a little more time. 
    1.67 +With an almost demonic scream the youma rose from its fallen place
    1.68 +and ran up the stairs at full speed, not allowing the Outer Senshi to
    1.69 +throw their attacks as they were all knocked aside. The Inner Senshi
    1.70 +quickly began and threw it back once more down the stairs. They all
    1.71 +stood tightly in place, resisting the urge to run to their friends.
    1.72 +This time the youma seemed to stay down, but its body was pulsating
    1.73 +ominously. The four Inner Senshi took the opportunity to run to their
    1.74 +friends, Mars to Neptune, Mercury to Uranus, Venus to Pluto and
    1.75 +Jupiter to Chibi-moon. With a hand the four girls stood and rested on
    1.76 +the supporter's shoulders, watching as Hotaru finished and leant
    1.77 +back, the wound gone and the hole in her gown repaired. Serenity
    1.78 +smiled thankfully and Endymion hugged her tight. The three Outer
    1.79 +Senshi and Chibi-moon all smiled and they looked down to the youma.
    1.80 +The body was still in spasm and kept jerking worryingly. The Senshi
    1.81 +took their opportunity and ran down the steps, moving past it and
    1.82 +moved into the corridor. Serenity raised her crystal above her head
    1.83 +and without a word bright white light as pure as silk stretched
    1.84 +forward and illuminated the youma, causing it to scream its demonic
    1.85 +scream, making the girls all cover their ears. The ones who didn't
    1.86 +were the King and Queen, Saturn and Pluto. The King and Queen had
    1.87 +their own reasons, they had faced many demons in their time, and
    1.88 +Saturn and Pluto also faced demons on a daily basis when they guarded
    1.89 +the time gate. Frowning, Saturn looked into the glow to see the body
    1.90 +disintegrate into numerous pieces, then the pieces all seemed to feed
    1.91 +of the silver crystal's energy, growing to be the same size as the
    1.92 +youma was before. However these all had a pentagram over their left
    1.93 +eyes. Sailor Saturn grabbed Serenity's wrist to stop her 
    1.94 +"What are you doing, Saturn?" Venus asked but got her answer as she
    1.95 +was blasted away with a youma's energy. Suddenly many blasts came
    1.96 +their way and the Senshi all ran through the corridor, turning into
    1.97 +the thrown room and stopping. Dead end, no way out. Silently cursing
    1.98 +themselves the Senshi all formed battle positions and faced the door,
    1.99 +but as the youma came into sight they all backed up. So many had been
   1.100 +made from the single youma, and they seemed to keep on multiplying.
   1.101 +More and more surged into sight until their numbers were well into
   1.102 +the hundreds. Saturn ran forward and slammed the doors shut, grabbing
   1.103 +into the air to catch a small metal point which somewhat resembled a
   1.104 +stake, only was metal with a hook on the end. She grabbed four
   1.105 +smaller ones of perhaps ten inches in length and then a larger one of
   1.106 +fifteen. She held them in her left hand and grabbed a hammer in her
   1.107 +right, holding them out to Uranus. 
   1.108 +"You're the strongest, do it." They all froze. Each one of the
   1.109 +Senshi knew what she intended, but none wanted to be the bearer to
   1.110 +make the sacrifice. Saturn pulled the wooden rod over the door just
   1.111 +as the youma slammed into it and turned urgently around the group.
   1.112 +"Someone has to do this! Do you all want to die?!" Serenity had her
   1.113 +head bowed, likewise did Endymion. Their hearts were too pure for
   1.114 +sacrifice to be an option. Saturn could almost see the cogs turning
   1.115 +to find another way. Bangs came hard and fast on the door and Saturn
   1.116 +turned over the Senshi, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Neptune, and Pluto. Not
   1.117 +strong enough physically. She turned to Uranus and Jupiter. "One of
   1.118 +you two! You know you're the only ones strong enough!" They both
   1.119 +shook their heads, but another smash on the door and one of the
   1.120 +bottom hinges broke off. Saturn cried out in frustration and glared
   1.121 +around the group. "Will you sacrifice everyone for weakness of the
   1.122 +heart?! Someone!!" She stopped abruptly as the room went black, the
   1.123 +power was out. Another clink of a hinge blowing. Saturn felt someone
   1.124 +take the things from her and smiled, hugging them tightly. Her heart
   1.125 +stopped. "Chibi-moon…" It etched deep into her soul as her lover took
   1.126 +her hand and walked her to the slowly falling door. Soon it would be
   1.127 +down and the Senshi would be destroyed. Chibi-moon had thought it
   1.128 +only right she do it. Who else should suffer so much? She'd be the
   1.129 +one to crucify her love. The room was in dire silence as Saturn stood
   1.130 +with her back to the door, then spoke hoarsely. 
   1.131 +"I need to be off the floor…" Chibi-moon nodded, both seeming
   1.132 +emotionless as the others looked on. Uranus felt silent tears run
   1.133 +down her cheeks before she stepped forward, taking her daughter in
   1.134 +her arms and holding her to the door, her feet off the floor. Chibi-
   1.135 +moon clenched one of the smaller rods tightly and put it to Saturn's
   1.136 +palm. She took a deep breath and slammed the hammer into the end,
   1.137 +driving it deep into Saturn's hand up to the hook, which held it in
   1.138 +place. She heard a small noise as Saturn bit back a cry of pain, and
   1.139 +grimaced as she moved to the other side. Saturn's hand was clenched
   1.140 +into a fist by her side, shaking slightly. Chibi-moon felt her heart
   1.141 +crack as she took her hand and put it into place, finding no
   1.142 +resistance she silently cursed herself and Saturn. This would be so
   1.143 +much easier if only she'd lash out and hurt her. Another hard smash
   1.144 +with the hammer and the pole was driven deep into her palm and into
   1.145 +the door. Uranus had her head to Saturn's chest and felt her suppress
   1.146 +another scream. She stayed quiet, in silent admiration of her
   1.147 +daughter. Chibi-moon felt her own hands shake beyond control as she
   1.148 +raised another short pole to Saturn's wrist, hammering it once.
   1.149 +However she felt it crack into the bone of her wrist, but not pass
   1.150 +through to the door. Bracing her heart she struck again and felt it
   1.151 +enter through, feeling Saturn's blood seep over her fingers. The
   1.152 +second blow caused Saturn to let a small cry of pain escape her lips
   1.153 +and the whole room seemed to close around them, everyone's very
   1.154 +hearts tightening. Chibi-moon moved again and with two swift hits the
   1.155 +fourth smaller pole was in place on her other wrist. The youma were
   1.156 +still banging on the door, yet it was holding out just about. A few
   1.157 +hinges left here and there to hold it in place. With each hit Saturn
   1.158 +felt the poles move and had to suppress a cry. She had to hide this
   1.159 +pain from the others. She had to. She looked down to the silhouette
   1.160 +of Uranus and whispered as softly as she could. "Haruka-papa, you
   1.161 +must let go now…" Her voice broke at the end and she just barely held
   1.162 +her tears inside. With a tighter hug, Uranus let her gently go. As
   1.163 +Saturn's weight fell onto the poles she flinched and bit deep into
   1.164 +her bottom lip. She was determined to stay silent. Uranus stepped
   1.165 +back and Saturn saw Neptune hold her tightly, and smiled slightly.
   1.166 +She looked down to see Chibi-moon kneeling before her, pulling her
   1.167 +legs in position with her right ankle in front of the other. Hotaru
   1.168 +smiled slightly and enjoyed the touch of her lover's hands before she
   1.169 +felt the small touch of the cold metal contact her skin. She watched
   1.170 +as Chibi-moon's silhouette swung her arm back and then clenched her
   1.171 +eyes shut tight, not able to hold back the scream of pain as the pole
   1.172 +sunk deep into her right ankle, but barely touched her left. Her
   1.173 +heart wrenched and she tried to struggle, only causing herself more
   1.174 +agony as she cried, tears falling down her cheeks. She couldn't do
   1.175 +this. It hurt too much; she was only a girl after all. Barely 18 she
   1.176 +shouldn't have to endure this pain. She tried to pull her legs away,
   1.177 +but Chibi-moon held them tightly in place with shaking fingers. 
   1.178 +"O-onegai… U-usagi… I can't take it… S-stop…" Chibi-moon's heart
   1.179 +splintered as she heard the frail girl's plea, but knew it was the
   1.180 +pain talking. Saturn knew of this when she began to summon forth the
   1.181 +crucifix poles. Chibi-moon pulled her arm back for the last time and
   1.182 +hammered the pole hard into place, piercing into Saturn's ankles and
   1.183 +through into the door. The bones cracked to make way for the pole and
   1.184 +the sound filled the chamber, echoing off the high walls along with
   1.185 +Saturn's screams. Her scream silenced as Chibi-moon kissed her
   1.186 +deeply, and a purple glittering spread over the room, creating a
   1.187 +barrier over the door and illuminating them all. All the Senshi fell
   1.188 +to their knees, their heart's breaking. The sight was not meant to be
   1.189 +theirs. 
   1.190 +Sailor Saturn's blood was streaking down the wooden door and to the
   1.191 +floor; the metal prongs that held her captive were spreading crimson
   1.192 +down her pure white gloves. Tears streaming down her face to meet an
   1.193 +expression of such pain, yet through the blurred vision and tears
   1.194 +falling there was Chibi-moon. With their lips and hearts entwined
   1.195 +nothing could hurt Saturn. Nothing. Screaming was heard down the
   1.196 +corridor as the youma were dusted, the hall falling silent once more.
   1.197 +After what seemed like an eternity the lights returned and knocks
   1.198 +were heard on the other side of the door, it was the palace staff,
   1.199 +all calling out to their protectors in praise. 
   1.200 +"Onegai, Minna, Step away from the door and go back to your
   1.201 +business." Serenity's voice was soft as usual but tears were running
   1.202 +down her face. Chibi-moon and Saturn broke the kiss, their
   1.203 +transformations disappearing to reveal their usual forms as Hotaru
   1.204 +and Usagi. Usagi quickly leaned down and pulled the pole from her
   1.205 +ankles. Hotaru made no sound, her head bowed and her eyes concealed
   1.206 +behind that beautiful raven hair. Usagi pulled out the poles from her
   1.207 +palms in one go and threw them aside. As they skidded across the
   1.208 +floor they left a trail of blood. With one last yank Usagi pulled the
   1.209 +remaining two poles from Hotaru's wrists, threw them aside, and
   1.210 +caught her in her arms before she touched the floor, throwing the
   1.211 +doors open and running down the halls with her. Neptune and Serenity
   1.212 +moved to follow, but Uranus and Endymion grabbed their upper arms and
   1.213 +pulled them back. 
   1.214 +
   1.215 +Back in their shared room with wounds bound, Usagi sat on the side
   1.216 +of the bed, watching over Hotaru as she had her eyes closed, her
   1.217 +fingers playing delicately through Hotaru's hair. Usagi was smiling
   1.218 +softly and leant down, kissing Hotaru on the lips. She felt the kiss
   1.219 +returned and smiled, wrapping her arms around Hotaru's back and
   1.220 +pulling her off the bed slightly. As they broke the kiss and Usagi
   1.221 +leaned back and smiled warmly. 
   1.222 +"You OK Taru-chan?" Hotaru nodded softly and returned the smile. 
   1.223 +"As long as I have you, I'll always be just fine."
   1.224 \ No newline at end of file