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Everywhere....darkness....everywhere...silence. Katsuko was running, she could see herself running, one arm reaching out to touch the sable clad figure so far ahead of her.
Mane!
She could hear her voice, clearly, loud in the enveloping quiet, but her mouth never moved. Her legs were pumping up and down, propelling her body forward, but the figure, her goal, seemed to get farther and farther away.
Mane, wait! Please!
Finally the figure turned, smiling, hand coming up to beckon Katsuko closer, but her eyes were what halted the monarchian warrior. Mane's eyes had always been a soft kind brown, but were now two narrow red silts of hate. Katsuko stopped, her face an expression of horror.
What's the matter, Monarch? Mane was laughing, her lips curved up cruelly. See something frightening?
Katsuko was stunned. Mane's rage was formidable,tangible. It snaked around her in smoky red wisps turning the surrounding black to scarlet. It was coming closer and closer to Katsuko, reaching out for her.
What has happened to you? Who has done this?
Mane sneered. Who did this? You fool. Do you really think that you can trick me?
What? Mane,I-
Silence, you murderer! You did this! The scarlet was spreading faster now, almost to Katsuko. Look at your handiwork, Monarch! This is what you have done!
I would never! Never! Katsuko tried to reach for her friend, but her fingers touched the scarlet and it stung her. Ouch! She looked at the girl standing before her, so far, so close, in disbelief that she would deliberately hurt her. Mane, stop this! Katsuko wanted to go to her, but the scarlet would sting her again. The red wisps were coming closer and she didn't want them to touch her. She stepped back slowly, not wanting to leave, but the scarelt was menacing.
Mane!
As Katsuko moved back, Mane seemed to shrink with every step, moving farther and farther away until she was just a speck.
Mane! No! No!
"No!"
Katsuko sat up, one hand clutching the back of the couch, the other against her heart. Sweat dripped from her face, her breath was ragged, and she nearly missed the StarLights, Tori, and Taka calling her name.
"Katsuko? Sister?"
"Katsuko-chan? Please answer us!"
"Suko? Suko!"
Slowly Katsuko's breathing slowed, her senses returned, and she turned to face them. Tori and Taka were still in uniform, sitting on the edge of the couch, looking worried, their hawk and falcon wings pressed against their backs. Seiya and Taiki were on the floor. They had been lying supine there, sleeping off and on, but had sprung forward when Katsuko cried out.
"Beloved?"
Katsuko looked up to see Yaten bending over the back of the couch, eyes wide with fright and apprehension.
"What happened?," asked Tori quietly. "What did you see?"
The look of pure pain that came across her sister Guardian's face tore Tori's heart in two. Katsuko couldn't speak, her heart still pounding savagely in her breast. Her ebony eyes darted from one worried face to another as her mind replayed the vision over and over. Taka started at the sight of tears in Katsuko's eyes and silently reached over to take her hand. Katsuko met her eyes and Taka smiled.
"It's ok," she assured her fellow warrior. "We're here. We're going to help."
"Let us give you our strength," joined in Tori.
The sob broke from Katsuko's throat as she flung out her arms. Tori and Taka did the same and held on as their friend and sister cried, her body shaking with sobs. Yaten stood nervously, not sure of what to do. When Sailor Hawk and Falcon arrived at the house, an unconscious Monarch in Falcon's arms, he had never left her side once. After listening to what Hawk and Falcon witnessed, he along with Seiya and Taiki were stunned to learn that Sailor Lynx had arisen. They watched as Katsuko lay quietly on the couch, but soon she started shaking with little tremors, leaving the Elite warriors and StarLights helpless, unable to reach into her mind and soothe her. Yaten didn't know how to reach his beloved either. She wasn't conscious of his touch or his words. His eyes never closed, keeping watch when the others' fatigue overtook them. Now he was still helpless even though she was awake. Suko...
"Gin ke?"
His silver head shot up at the sound of her sweet voice calling for him. She leaned away from Tori and Taka, her weary eyes searching for him.
"Gin ke?"
"I'm here!" He leaped over the couch, catching her as she fell back. "I'm always here."
She looked up at him, smiling tiredly. "Help..us," she sighed. "We need you...all of you."
Yaten wanted to cry at the depths of sadness in his love's eyes. She was getting better!, he wanted to scream. She was healing! Now Lynx returned, opening old wounds and giving new ones in the process. Yaten felt angry, angry at Lynx, angry at his helplessness, angry that his Suko was in more pain than ever.
"The moon princess must know...," Katsuko was saying, sighing in Yaten's arms. "They all must."
Seiya and Taiki looked skeptical.
"Must we?," asked Taka, uncertain.
"Don't argue with her," growled Yaten suddenly. His anger was rising steadily. "Suko-chan knows what is best. If she says that Usagi-chan and the rest of them has to know, then that's what's going to happen." He glared at each in turn. "I'm taking her to bed. Don't you dare try to follow."
The remaining senshi said nothing, silently understanding his rage. Yaten had cared for Katsuko for years, he loved her more than himself. watching him carry the monarch warrior to her room, Taka had to smile.
Our strength is welcome, but his...his is needed.
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