rlm@0: Title: Crucifixion. rlm@0: rlm@0: By Jerry-rose rlm@0: rlm@0: Email: sleeping.soul@hotmail.co.uk rlm@0: rlm@0: 3 anyways enjoy ^^> rlm@0: rlm@0: Sailor Saturn was leaning against the roof door of the crystal rlm@0: palace, her eyes narrowed as she shifted so her ear was pressed to rlm@0: the door. She waited in silence and then sighed, nothing. rlm@0: "We're safe for now minna, it didn't follow us here." A few of the rlm@0: Senshi nodded, but the others were leaning over King Endymion and rlm@0: Queen Serenity. The king was kneeling on the ground with the Queen in rlm@0: his arms, leaning over her protectively. She had a smile on her face, rlm@0: however it was pained. As the King leant back it was obvious why, rlm@0: half a broken off arrow was protruding from her chest, hampering her rlm@0: breathing. Sailor Saturn stepped forward and the other Senshi cleared rlm@0: a path to let her through, the King looked up as she knelt beside rlm@0: them and rested Serenity flat of the floor as Sailor Saturn rlm@0: signalled. She was not as good as she used to be at healing, as she'd rlm@0: learnt well under Setsuna's teachings. Her healing took longer now, rlm@0: but it meant she was able to recover quickly the energy lost. Her rlm@0: hands reached out over Serenity and she hovered a hand over the rlm@0: arrow. rlm@0: "Gomen ne, my queen, but I'll need to pull this out from beneath, so rlm@0: the head isn't left inside…" Serenity nodded and Endymion took her rlm@0: outstretched hand. Sailor Chibi-moon was standing behind Endymion and rlm@0: looking over the three. Sailor Saturn looked up to her briefly and rlm@0: then smiled encouragingly. Chibi-moon nodded and looked away as rlm@0: Saturn dug her fingers deep into the wound, clasping the point of the rlm@0: arrow and pulling it back the way it had come. She cried out in pain rlm@0: and Saturn felt a pang of guilt, throwing the arrow aside she quickly rlm@0: put her blood soaked hand over the wound, against the flesh, then her rlm@0: clean over that one. She closed her eyes and began to concentrate. rlm@0: With a quick flash of white light and then a soft glow she began the rlm@0: long process of healing her Queen. A heavy bang against the door told rlm@0: her that her time was almost up. She clenched her eyes tighter and rlm@0: tried to focus as the banging became louder. Sailor Pluto put a hand rlm@0: on her shoulder gently and squeezed. rlm@0: "Don't rush, Saturn, you know the consequence. Take the time you rlm@0: need, we'll hold it off." Sailor Saturn nodded and unclenched her rlm@0: eyes, relaxing as she went back to her focus. If she was interrupted rlm@0: now, both she and the Queen could be in danger of loosing their rlm@0: lives. The Outer Senshi knew the danger, as did Chibi-moon, and took rlm@0: their stances in front of the door, the Inner Senshi taking places in rlm@0: front of the King, Queen and Saturn. Sailor Saturn continued working rlm@0: as the doors burst open, reducing the solid oak to kindling. The rlm@0: Outer Senshi and Chibi-moon sprung into action, launching their rlm@0: attacks simultaneously. The three Outer Senshi's combined as one and rlm@0: hit it hard, the bright light blinding them before receding to show a rlm@0: smoking youma. Chibi-moon's attack hit after and in a pink light the rlm@0: youma was forced back out the door and sent spiralling down the large rlm@0: marble staircase. Everyone stayed put, they knew it was a bad idea to rlm@0: leave their protective circle, and so stuck close to the three behind rlm@0: them. Sailor Saturn was almost finished, the wound reduced to a small rlm@0: bleed. With a sigh she felt Serenity relax beneath her but knew it rlm@0: wasn't over yet. They needed just a little more time. rlm@0: With an almost demonic scream the youma rose from its fallen place rlm@0: and ran up the stairs at full speed, not allowing the Outer Senshi to rlm@0: throw their attacks as they were all knocked aside. The Inner Senshi rlm@0: quickly began and threw it back once more down the stairs. They all rlm@0: stood tightly in place, resisting the urge to run to their friends. rlm@0: This time the youma seemed to stay down, but its body was pulsating rlm@0: ominously. The four Inner Senshi took the opportunity to run to their rlm@0: friends, Mars to Neptune, Mercury to Uranus, Venus to Pluto and rlm@0: Jupiter to Chibi-moon. With a hand the four girls stood and rested on rlm@0: the supporter's shoulders, watching as Hotaru finished and leant rlm@0: back, the wound gone and the hole in her gown repaired. Serenity rlm@0: smiled thankfully and Endymion hugged her tight. The three Outer rlm@0: Senshi and Chibi-moon all smiled and they looked down to the youma. rlm@0: The body was still in spasm and kept jerking worryingly. The Senshi rlm@0: took their opportunity and ran down the steps, moving past it and rlm@0: moved into the corridor. Serenity raised her crystal above her head rlm@0: and without a word bright white light as pure as silk stretched rlm@0: forward and illuminated the youma, causing it to scream its demonic rlm@0: scream, making the girls all cover their ears. The ones who didn't rlm@0: were the King and Queen, Saturn and Pluto. The King and Queen had rlm@0: their own reasons, they had faced many demons in their time, and rlm@0: Saturn and Pluto also faced demons on a daily basis when they guarded rlm@0: the time gate. Frowning, Saturn looked into the glow to see the body rlm@0: disintegrate into numerous pieces, then the pieces all seemed to feed rlm@0: of the silver crystal's energy, growing to be the same size as the rlm@0: youma was before. However these all had a pentagram over their left rlm@0: eyes. Sailor Saturn grabbed Serenity's wrist to stop her rlm@0: "What are you doing, Saturn?" Venus asked but got her answer as she rlm@0: was blasted away with a youma's energy. Suddenly many blasts came rlm@0: their way and the Senshi all ran through the corridor, turning into rlm@0: the thrown room and stopping. Dead end, no way out. Silently cursing rlm@0: themselves the Senshi all formed battle positions and faced the door, rlm@0: but as the youma came into sight they all backed up. So many had been rlm@0: made from the single youma, and they seemed to keep on multiplying. rlm@0: More and more surged into sight until their numbers were well into rlm@0: the hundreds. Saturn ran forward and slammed the doors shut, grabbing rlm@0: into the air to catch a small metal point which somewhat resembled a rlm@0: stake, only was metal with a hook on the end. She grabbed four rlm@0: smaller ones of perhaps ten inches in length and then a larger one of rlm@0: fifteen. She held them in her left hand and grabbed a hammer in her rlm@0: right, holding them out to Uranus. rlm@0: "You're the strongest, do it." They all froze. Each one of the rlm@0: Senshi knew what she intended, but none wanted to be the bearer to rlm@0: make the sacrifice. Saturn pulled the wooden rod over the door just rlm@0: as the youma slammed into it and turned urgently around the group. rlm@0: "Someone has to do this! Do you all want to die?!" Serenity had her rlm@0: head bowed, likewise did Endymion. Their hearts were too pure for rlm@0: sacrifice to be an option. Saturn could almost see the cogs turning rlm@0: to find another way. Bangs came hard and fast on the door and Saturn rlm@0: turned over the Senshi, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Neptune, and Pluto. Not rlm@0: strong enough physically. She turned to Uranus and Jupiter. "One of rlm@0: you two! You know you're the only ones strong enough!" They both rlm@0: shook their heads, but another smash on the door and one of the rlm@0: bottom hinges broke off. Saturn cried out in frustration and glared rlm@0: around the group. "Will you sacrifice everyone for weakness of the rlm@0: heart?! Someone!!" She stopped abruptly as the room went black, the rlm@0: power was out. Another clink of a hinge blowing. Saturn felt someone rlm@0: take the things from her and smiled, hugging them tightly. Her heart rlm@0: stopped. "Chibi-moon…" It etched deep into her soul as her lover took rlm@0: her hand and walked her to the slowly falling door. Soon it would be rlm@0: down and the Senshi would be destroyed. Chibi-moon had thought it rlm@0: only right she do it. Who else should suffer so much? She'd be the rlm@0: one to crucify her love. The room was in dire silence as Saturn stood rlm@0: with her back to the door, then spoke hoarsely. rlm@0: "I need to be off the floor…" Chibi-moon nodded, both seeming rlm@0: emotionless as the others looked on. Uranus felt silent tears run rlm@0: down her cheeks before she stepped forward, taking her daughter in rlm@0: her arms and holding her to the door, her feet off the floor. Chibi- rlm@0: moon clenched one of the smaller rods tightly and put it to Saturn's rlm@0: palm. She took a deep breath and slammed the hammer into the end, rlm@0: driving it deep into Saturn's hand up to the hook, which held it in rlm@0: place. She heard a small noise as Saturn bit back a cry of pain, and rlm@0: grimaced as she moved to the other side. Saturn's hand was clenched rlm@0: into a fist by her side, shaking slightly. Chibi-moon felt her heart rlm@0: crack as she took her hand and put it into place, finding no rlm@0: resistance she silently cursed herself and Saturn. This would be so rlm@0: much easier if only she'd lash out and hurt her. Another hard smash rlm@0: with the hammer and the pole was driven deep into her palm and into rlm@0: the door. Uranus had her head to Saturn's chest and felt her suppress rlm@0: another scream. She stayed quiet, in silent admiration of her rlm@0: daughter. Chibi-moon felt her own hands shake beyond control as she rlm@0: raised another short pole to Saturn's wrist, hammering it once. rlm@0: However she felt it crack into the bone of her wrist, but not pass rlm@0: through to the door. Bracing her heart she struck again and felt it rlm@0: enter through, feeling Saturn's blood seep over her fingers. The rlm@0: second blow caused Saturn to let a small cry of pain escape her lips rlm@0: and the whole room seemed to close around them, everyone's very rlm@0: hearts tightening. Chibi-moon moved again and with two swift hits the rlm@0: fourth smaller pole was in place on her other wrist. The youma were rlm@0: still banging on the door, yet it was holding out just about. A few rlm@0: hinges left here and there to hold it in place. With each hit Saturn rlm@0: felt the poles move and had to suppress a cry. She had to hide this rlm@0: pain from the others. She had to. She looked down to the silhouette rlm@0: of Uranus and whispered as softly as she could. "Haruka-papa, you rlm@0: must let go now…" Her voice broke at the end and she just barely held rlm@0: her tears inside. With a tighter hug, Uranus let her gently go. As rlm@0: Saturn's weight fell onto the poles she flinched and bit deep into rlm@0: her bottom lip. She was determined to stay silent. Uranus stepped rlm@0: back and Saturn saw Neptune hold her tightly, and smiled slightly. rlm@0: She looked down to see Chibi-moon kneeling before her, pulling her rlm@0: legs in position with her right ankle in front of the other. Hotaru rlm@0: smiled slightly and enjoyed the touch of her lover's hands before she rlm@0: felt the small touch of the cold metal contact her skin. She watched rlm@0: as Chibi-moon's silhouette swung her arm back and then clenched her rlm@0: eyes shut tight, not able to hold back the scream of pain as the pole rlm@0: sunk deep into her right ankle, but barely touched her left. Her rlm@0: heart wrenched and she tried to struggle, only causing herself more rlm@0: agony as she cried, tears falling down her cheeks. She couldn't do rlm@0: this. It hurt too much; she was only a girl after all. Barely 18 she rlm@0: shouldn't have to endure this pain. She tried to pull her legs away, rlm@0: but Chibi-moon held them tightly in place with shaking fingers. rlm@0: "O-onegai… U-usagi… I can't take it… S-stop…" Chibi-moon's heart rlm@0: splintered as she heard the frail girl's plea, but knew it was the rlm@0: pain talking. Saturn knew of this when she began to summon forth the rlm@0: crucifix poles. Chibi-moon pulled her arm back for the last time and rlm@0: hammered the pole hard into place, piercing into Saturn's ankles and rlm@0: through into the door. The bones cracked to make way for the pole and rlm@0: the sound filled the chamber, echoing off the high walls along with rlm@0: Saturn's screams. Her scream silenced as Chibi-moon kissed her rlm@0: deeply, and a purple glittering spread over the room, creating a rlm@0: barrier over the door and illuminating them all. All the Senshi fell rlm@0: to their knees, their heart's breaking. The sight was not meant to be rlm@0: theirs. rlm@0: Sailor Saturn's blood was streaking down the wooden door and to the rlm@0: floor; the metal prongs that held her captive were spreading crimson rlm@0: down her pure white gloves. Tears streaming down her face to meet an rlm@0: expression of such pain, yet through the blurred vision and tears rlm@0: falling there was Chibi-moon. With their lips and hearts entwined rlm@0: nothing could hurt Saturn. Nothing. Screaming was heard down the rlm@0: corridor as the youma were dusted, the hall falling silent once more. rlm@0: After what seemed like an eternity the lights returned and knocks rlm@0: were heard on the other side of the door, it was the palace staff, rlm@0: all calling out to their protectors in praise. rlm@0: "Onegai, Minna, Step away from the door and go back to your rlm@0: business." Serenity's voice was soft as usual but tears were running rlm@0: down her face. Chibi-moon and Saturn broke the kiss, their rlm@0: transformations disappearing to reveal their usual forms as Hotaru rlm@0: and Usagi. Usagi quickly leaned down and pulled the pole from her rlm@0: ankles. Hotaru made no sound, her head bowed and her eyes concealed rlm@0: behind that beautiful raven hair. Usagi pulled out the poles from her rlm@0: palms in one go and threw them aside. As they skidded across the rlm@0: floor they left a trail of blood. With one last yank Usagi pulled the rlm@0: remaining two poles from Hotaru's wrists, threw them aside, and rlm@0: caught her in her arms before she touched the floor, throwing the rlm@0: doors open and running down the halls with her. Neptune and Serenity rlm@0: moved to follow, but Uranus and Endymion grabbed their upper arms and rlm@0: pulled them back. rlm@0: rlm@0: Back in their shared room with wounds bound, Usagi sat on the side rlm@0: of the bed, watching over Hotaru as she had her eyes closed, her rlm@0: fingers playing delicately through Hotaru's hair. Usagi was smiling rlm@0: softly and leant down, kissing Hotaru on the lips. She felt the kiss rlm@0: returned and smiled, wrapping her arms around Hotaru's back and rlm@0: pulling her off the bed slightly. As they broke the kiss and Usagi rlm@0: leaned back and smiled warmly. rlm@0: "You OK Taru-chan?" Hotaru nodded softly and returned the smile. rlm@0: "As long as I have you, I'll always be just fine."