Title: Crucifixion. 

 

 By Jerry-rose 

 

 Email: sleeping.soul@hotmail.co.uk 

 

 <AN: I'm still saying it xD But the Sailor soldiers aren't mine,

 their Naoko's. And blah blah blah blah etc o.o Ok, this was inspired

 by a dream I had. It's probably a little violent as per usual, so my

 apologies but eh, you should be used to it by now :P Anyway feel free

 to mail me with comments, criticism, compliments (ha yeah right x3)

 or hey, flame me >3 anyways enjoy ^^> 

 

 Sailor Saturn was leaning against the roof door of the crystal

 palace, her eyes narrowed as she shifted so her ear was pressed to

 the door. She waited in silence and then sighed, nothing. 

 "We're safe for now minna, it didn't follow us here." A few of the

 Senshi nodded, but the others were leaning over King Endymion and

 Queen Serenity. The king was kneeling on the ground with the Queen in

 his arms, leaning over her protectively. She had a smile on her face,

 however it was pained. As the King leant back it was obvious why,

 half a broken off arrow was protruding from her chest, hampering her

 breathing. Sailor Saturn stepped forward and the other Senshi cleared

 a path to let her through, the King looked up as she knelt beside

 them and rested Serenity flat of the floor as Sailor Saturn

 signalled. She was not as good as she used to be at healing, as she'd

 learnt well under Setsuna's teachings. Her healing took longer now,

 but it meant she was able to recover quickly the energy lost. Her

 hands reached out over Serenity and she hovered a hand over the

 arrow. 

 "Gomen ne, my queen, but I'll need to pull this out from beneath, so

 the head isn't left inside…" Serenity nodded and Endymion took her

 outstretched hand. Sailor Chibi-moon was standing behind Endymion and

 looking over the three. Sailor Saturn looked up to her briefly and

 then smiled encouragingly. Chibi-moon nodded and looked away as

 Saturn dug her fingers deep into the wound, clasping the point of the

 arrow and pulling it back the way it had come. She cried out in pain

 and Saturn felt a pang of guilt, throwing the arrow aside she quickly

 put her blood soaked hand over the wound, against the flesh, then her

 clean over that one. She closed her eyes and began to concentrate.

 With a quick flash of white light and then a soft glow she began the

 long process of healing her Queen. A heavy bang against the door told

 her that her time was almost up. She clenched her eyes tighter and

 tried to focus as the banging became louder. Sailor Pluto put a hand

 on her shoulder gently and squeezed. 

 "Don't rush, Saturn, you know the consequence. Take the time you

 need, we'll hold it off." Sailor Saturn nodded and unclenched her

 eyes, relaxing as she went back to her focus. If she was interrupted

 now, both she and the Queen could be in danger of loosing their

 lives. The Outer Senshi knew the danger, as did Chibi-moon, and took

 their stances in front of the door, the Inner Senshi taking places in

 front of the King, Queen and Saturn. Sailor Saturn continued working

 as the doors burst open, reducing the solid oak to kindling. The

 Outer Senshi and Chibi-moon sprung into action, launching their

 attacks simultaneously. The three Outer Senshi's combined as one and

 hit it hard, the bright light blinding them before receding to show a

 smoking youma. Chibi-moon's attack hit after and in a pink light the

 youma was forced back out the door and sent spiralling down the large

 marble staircase. Everyone stayed put, they knew it was a bad idea to

 leave their protective circle, and so stuck close to the three behind

 them. Sailor Saturn was almost finished, the wound reduced to a small

 bleed. With a sigh she felt Serenity relax beneath her but knew it

 wasn't over yet. They needed just a little more time. 

 With an almost demonic scream the youma rose from its fallen place

 and ran up the stairs at full speed, not allowing the Outer Senshi to

 throw their attacks as they were all knocked aside. The Inner Senshi

 quickly began and threw it back once more down the stairs. They all

 stood tightly in place, resisting the urge to run to their friends.

 This time the youma seemed to stay down, but its body was pulsating

 ominously. The four Inner Senshi took the opportunity to run to their

 friends, Mars to Neptune, Mercury to Uranus, Venus to Pluto and

 Jupiter to Chibi-moon. With a hand the four girls stood and rested on

 the supporter's shoulders, watching as Hotaru finished and leant

 back, the wound gone and the hole in her gown repaired. Serenity

 smiled thankfully and Endymion hugged her tight. The three Outer

 Senshi and Chibi-moon all smiled and they looked down to the youma.

 The body was still in spasm and kept jerking worryingly. The Senshi

 took their opportunity and ran down the steps, moving past it and

 moved into the corridor. Serenity raised her crystal above her head

 and without a word bright white light as pure as silk stretched

 forward and illuminated the youma, causing it to scream its demonic

 scream, making the girls all cover their ears. The ones who didn't

 were the King and Queen, Saturn and Pluto. The King and Queen had

 their own reasons, they had faced many demons in their time, and

 Saturn and Pluto also faced demons on a daily basis when they guarded

 the time gate. Frowning, Saturn looked into the glow to see the body

 disintegrate into numerous pieces, then the pieces all seemed to feed

 of the silver crystal's energy, growing to be the same size as the

 youma was before. However these all had a pentagram over their left

 eyes. Sailor Saturn grabbed Serenity's wrist to stop her 

 "What are you doing, Saturn?" Venus asked but got her answer as she

 was blasted away with a youma's energy. Suddenly many blasts came

 their way and the Senshi all ran through the corridor, turning into

 the thrown room and stopping. Dead end, no way out. Silently cursing

 themselves the Senshi all formed battle positions and faced the door,

 but as the youma came into sight they all backed up. So many had been

 made from the single youma, and they seemed to keep on multiplying.

 More and more surged into sight until their numbers were well into

 the hundreds. Saturn ran forward and slammed the doors shut, grabbing

 into the air to catch a small metal point which somewhat resembled a

 stake, only was metal with a hook on the end. She grabbed four

 smaller ones of perhaps ten inches in length and then a larger one of

 fifteen. She held them in her left hand and grabbed a hammer in her

 right, holding them out to Uranus. 

 "You're the strongest, do it." They all froze. Each one of the

 Senshi knew what she intended, but none wanted to be the bearer to

 make the sacrifice. Saturn pulled the wooden rod over the door just

 as the youma slammed into it and turned urgently around the group.

 "Someone has to do this! Do you all want to die?!" Serenity had her

 head bowed, likewise did Endymion. Their hearts were too pure for

 sacrifice to be an option. Saturn could almost see the cogs turning

 to find another way. Bangs came hard and fast on the door and Saturn

 turned over the Senshi, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Neptune, and Pluto. Not

 strong enough physically. She turned to Uranus and Jupiter. "One of

 you two! You know you're the only ones strong enough!" They both

 shook their heads, but another smash on the door and one of the

 bottom hinges broke off. Saturn cried out in frustration and glared

 around the group. "Will you sacrifice everyone for weakness of the

 heart?! Someone!!" She stopped abruptly as the room went black, the

 power was out. Another clink of a hinge blowing. Saturn felt someone

 take the things from her and smiled, hugging them tightly. Her heart

 stopped. "Chibi-moon…" It etched deep into her soul as her lover took

 her hand and walked her to the slowly falling door. Soon it would be

 down and the Senshi would be destroyed. Chibi-moon had thought it

 only right she do it. Who else should suffer so much? She'd be the

 one to crucify her love. The room was in dire silence as Saturn stood

 with her back to the door, then spoke hoarsely. 

 "I need to be off the floor…" Chibi-moon nodded, both seeming

 emotionless as the others looked on. Uranus felt silent tears run

 down her cheeks before she stepped forward, taking her daughter in

 her arms and holding her to the door, her feet off the floor. Chibi-

 moon clenched one of the smaller rods tightly and put it to Saturn's

 palm. She took a deep breath and slammed the hammer into the end,

 driving it deep into Saturn's hand up to the hook, which held it in

 place. She heard a small noise as Saturn bit back a cry of pain, and

 grimaced as she moved to the other side. Saturn's hand was clenched

 into a fist by her side, shaking slightly. Chibi-moon felt her heart

 crack as she took her hand and put it into place, finding no

 resistance she silently cursed herself and Saturn. This would be so

 much easier if only she'd lash out and hurt her. Another hard smash

 with the hammer and the pole was driven deep into her palm and into

 the door. Uranus had her head to Saturn's chest and felt her suppress

 another scream. She stayed quiet, in silent admiration of her

 daughter. Chibi-moon felt her own hands shake beyond control as she

 raised another short pole to Saturn's wrist, hammering it once.

 However she felt it crack into the bone of her wrist, but not pass

 through to the door. Bracing her heart she struck again and felt it

 enter through, feeling Saturn's blood seep over her fingers. The

 second blow caused Saturn to let a small cry of pain escape her lips

 and the whole room seemed to close around them, everyone's very

 hearts tightening. Chibi-moon moved again and with two swift hits the

 fourth smaller pole was in place on her other wrist. The youma were

 still banging on the door, yet it was holding out just about. A few

 hinges left here and there to hold it in place. With each hit Saturn

 felt the poles move and had to suppress a cry. She had to hide this

 pain from the others. She had to. She looked down to the silhouette

 of Uranus and whispered as softly as she could. "Haruka-papa, you

 must let go now…" Her voice broke at the end and she just barely held

 her tears inside. With a tighter hug, Uranus let her gently go. As

 Saturn's weight fell onto the poles she flinched and bit deep into

 her bottom lip. She was determined to stay silent. Uranus stepped

 back and Saturn saw Neptune hold her tightly, and smiled slightly.

 She looked down to see Chibi-moon kneeling before her, pulling her

 legs in position with her right ankle in front of the other. Hotaru

 smiled slightly and enjoyed the touch of her lover's hands before she

 felt the small touch of the cold metal contact her skin. She watched

 as Chibi-moon's silhouette swung her arm back and then clenched her

 eyes shut tight, not able to hold back the scream of pain as the pole

 sunk deep into her right ankle, but barely touched her left. Her

 heart wrenched and she tried to struggle, only causing herself more

 agony as she cried, tears falling down her cheeks. She couldn't do

 this. It hurt too much; she was only a girl after all. Barely 18 she

 shouldn't have to endure this pain. She tried to pull her legs away,

 but Chibi-moon held them tightly in place with shaking fingers. 

 "O-onegai… U-usagi… I can't take it… S-stop…" Chibi-moon's heart

 splintered as she heard the frail girl's plea, but knew it was the

 pain talking. Saturn knew of this when she began to summon forth the

 crucifix poles. Chibi-moon pulled her arm back for the last time and

 hammered the pole hard into place, piercing into Saturn's ankles and

 through into the door. The bones cracked to make way for the pole and

 the sound filled the chamber, echoing off the high walls along with

 Saturn's screams. Her scream silenced as Chibi-moon kissed her

 deeply, and a purple glittering spread over the room, creating a

 barrier over the door and illuminating them all. All the Senshi fell

 to their knees, their heart's breaking. The sight was not meant to be

 theirs. 

 Sailor Saturn's blood was streaking down the wooden door and to the

 floor; the metal prongs that held her captive were spreading crimson

 down her pure white gloves. Tears streaming down her face to meet an

 expression of such pain, yet through the blurred vision and tears

 falling there was Chibi-moon. With their lips and hearts entwined

 nothing could hurt Saturn. Nothing. Screaming was heard down the

 corridor as the youma were dusted, the hall falling silent once more.

 After what seemed like an eternity the lights returned and knocks

 were heard on the other side of the door, it was the palace staff,

 all calling out to their protectors in praise. 

 "Onegai, Minna, Step away from the door and go back to your

 business." Serenity's voice was soft as usual but tears were running

 down her face. Chibi-moon and Saturn broke the kiss, their

 transformations disappearing to reveal their usual forms as Hotaru

 and Usagi. Usagi quickly leaned down and pulled the pole from her

 ankles. Hotaru made no sound, her head bowed and her eyes concealed

 behind that beautiful raven hair. Usagi pulled out the poles from her

 palms in one go and threw them aside. As they skidded across the

 floor they left a trail of blood. With one last yank Usagi pulled the

 remaining two poles from Hotaru's wrists, threw them aside, and

 caught her in her arms before she touched the floor, throwing the

 doors open and running down the halls with her. Neptune and Serenity

 moved to follow, but Uranus and Endymion grabbed their upper arms and

 pulled them back. 

 

 Back in their shared room with wounds bound, Usagi sat on the side

 of the bed, watching over Hotaru as she had her eyes closed, her

 fingers playing delicately through Hotaru's hair. Usagi was smiling

 softly and leant down, kissing Hotaru on the lips. She felt the kiss

 returned and smiled, wrapping her arms around Hotaru's back and

 pulling her off the bed slightly. As they broke the kiss and Usagi

 leaned back and smiled warmly. 

 "You OK Taru-chan?" Hotaru nodded softly and returned the smile. 

 "As long as I have you, I'll always be just fine."