Title: "Between Now and Then"

Rating: T

Genre: Humor/Mystery/Drama

Disclaimer: The following is an original plot line with non-original characters. They are nota mine.

Author’s Notes:

Don’t stone me!!! Ok it’s been… crap years… since I last updated. I’m so sorry. It’s been your constant reviews though that have gotten me off my bum! Every time I got a review I wrote a little. And here we go.. the next chapter in this awesome story. I must admit this is one of my really cool ones because I’m not sure if anyone has written a story like this… I’m sure someone has but if not… no wonder you keep e-mailing me for them!

Forgive me for my apprehension to post though… It has been so long and I fear that I am not as good of a writer as I use to be… if this sucks feel free to tell me and dash any hopes of ever reading anymore cause obviously my time gap has killed my writing skills… I hope not, I still enjoy this stuff a lot even though it’s been awhile.
I hope you enjoy!!

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The flames flickered before her soothingly and Rei closed her eyes, her fingers forming and detaching as she chanted silently into the room towards the roaring fire. She had been meditating for the last two hours and had not even achieved a peace she was content with. Just waiting… a nagging…

Suddenly her eyes flew open and something shot through her chest. Pictures and voices echoed through her mind. She gasped putting her hands over her head to try and still it. People running. Ice. Cold. Screams. She gasped as suddenly it was all sucked out of her and she was left with nothing. Rei gasped leaning forward as her ebony locks fanned about her. A chill passed over her. Ice. What did that mean? She lifted her indigo eyes towards the great flame when another chill washed over her. Her heart stopped. The great flame… it was out.

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Rei fumbled in the elevator and went to push her Princess’s button but instead traveled five floors higher. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest and her frame was disheveled. The great flame had died before her and she had screamed as the fear crushed down upon her senses. She had to get out of her temple… messily she had thrown on a jacket and had run all the way to Juuban to Usagi and Mamoru’s apartment. When she reached the elevator her courage had waned and now she stood in front of Ami’s door. She banged on it, her breathing hard.

“Ami-chan!” Rei cried and she heard hurried footsteps than Ami Mizuno’s form threw the door open to stare wide-eyed at the raucous in her hallway.

“What the hell are you yelling for!” Ami hissed and reached out and yanked the priestess into her apartment. Ami glanced guiltily into the hallway than turned on the priestess as she shut the door. She was going to fuss again when she saw the haunted look in Rei’s eyes. “What?” Ami asked breathlessly and Rei shook her head and reached out for her, her legs failing. Ami rushed to her and supported her friend as she dragged her towards the living room. Rei tried to regain her breathing as her eyes took in her surroundings. Something in her heart chinked and she looked up at the doctor with surprise as Ami finally wrestled her to fall upon her couch.

“What are you waiting for?” Rei whispered quietly and Ami blinked and sat beside her.

“Nani? Are you all right?” Ami asked and reached up to touch Rei’s forehead. Than she grabbed her wrist to take her pulse. Rei jerked her hand away from her.

“What are you waiting for Ami-chan!” Rei suddenly screamed and Ami stilled, shock flitting through her eyes. Panic jolted through the small genius’s body as Rei stared at her, her eyes piercing through her.

“I don’t know what you are talking about…” Ami muttered as she moved to stand. Rei jumped forward, faster than the Mercurian expected and slammed into the fragile senshi sending both to the floor with force. Ami gasped and moved to attack her but than realized who had pushed her to the ground.

“What are you waiting for!” Rei yelled and Ami stared at her, her pulse beating in her ears as tears began to form in the bottoms of her eyes.

“For something to stay for!” Ami screamed back and Rei stilled staring into her old friend’s face. She had seen the same expression in Minako’s… and she would also probably find it in Makoto’s as well. With defeat Rei rolled off of her and felt as if the world around her was crumbling. Was she the only one with the burden of loyalty?

“I have that burden Rei!” Ami suddenly snapped as she stood. “How could you accuse me of treason!” Ami yelled down at her and Rei’s form stilled. She felt a chill wash over her again and she gulped as her heart thudding in her ear.

“I didn’t say it out loud.” Rei mumbled quietly and Ami narrowed her eyes in suspicion as if Rei had gone off of her rocker.

“You thought you were the only one who had the burden of loyalty!” Ami snapped and Rei glanced up at her, her indigo eyes filled with fear and shock. Ami startled at the expression.

“Exactly… I thought.” Rei hissed and Ami blinked trying to comprehend the situation. “You heard what I was thinking… not what I was saying…” Rei said as she backed away from the Senshi and realization washed over Ami and she gasped as she stumbled backwards falling onto her coffee table. “You read my mind.” Rei hissed in shock and Ami shook her head.

“I didn’t… I… I… heard you so loud in my head…” Ami said grabbing her temple and she let out a scream. “Oh my God you’re in my head!” Ami cried suddenly standing to rush towards the couch. Rei stood and rushed towards her sitting beside her.

“Can you see into my mind?” Rei asked quickly and Ami opened her eyes in shock and stared at the priestess.

“No and I’m not going to try!” Ami snapped pushing the priestess away from her, and crawling away. Rei let out a breath and looked at her again.

“It’s not like that… this has got to be something to do with our powers…” Rei hissed trying to think and Ami shook her head.

“It’s not logical… if we could always speak through our minds we should have received it when we awakened… maybe I really am just a genius and I could read your mind before you spoke…” Ami hissed at her with narrowed eyes and Rei rolled her eyes.

Maybe Ami was losing her marbles or she had a much bigger head than all of them though.

“Don’t be ridiculous. You read my mind… I felt it… you felt it… you knew it!” Rei accused and Ami looked at her with shock.

“I didn’t!” Ami cried and Rei shook her head. “But I’m kind of glad I did… now I know what you think of us!” Ami suddenly growled and Rei blinked.

“Us?” She snapped and Ami nodded moving towards her.

“You think you are so righteous and noble… you stayed… how your pride has covered your flaws as well Rei-chan!” Ami snapped and Rei gasped, her eyes widenening as anger formed in her stomach.

“I never thought that!” Rei hissed and Ami rolled her eyes.

“You didn’t have to! We can read it by your body language towards us!” Ami yelled and Rei stood.

“Well, maybe I was right! I loved her!” Rei yelled and Ami stood, anger flashing in her deep blue orbs.

“We all love her!” Ami yelled back and Rei pushed her and Ami stumbled back a step. She looked at he priestess with shock. Rei had pushed her. What were they doing? Was this even them?

“Than why would you want to leave her!” Rei yelled and Ami fell silent and her jaw dropped as her heart stilled. Rei’s words echoed through her ears as all of the priestess’ fears washed over her. Fear that they would end… that Usagi would be left alone… ice… Ami felt her heart crumble and tears filled her eyes. Rei blinked feeling the emotions churn within her companion. She wanted to reach out to her, to comfort the water sprite but her hands wouldn’t move.

“You can’t understand Rei…” Ami hissed finally as she took in a deep breath. “I’m lost… she doesn’t need me…” Ami said silently and Rei opened her mouth to blast the alien when something attacked both of them and Rei gasped. Usagi. She was screaming. Ami and Rei bolted towards the door. They had to get to her.

Usagi dried her hands as the front door shut to her apartment. She glanced that way than at the black feline that was staring at her.

“They look restless.” Luna commented and Usagi placed down the dishtowel she was using and stared at the counter, bracing herself upon it.

“This is supposed to be the happily ever after…” Usagi whispered and Luna glanced at her charge and let out a soft sigh.

“It is Usagi-chan… we will get to the bottom of this.” She said confidently and Usagi glanced up at her and forced a smile on her lips. Her body jolted when she felt the ground shake beneath her. Luna blinked looking at the counter.

“Did you feel that?” Usagi cried and raced from the kitchen to look around the apartment suite.

“It can’t be an earth quake…” Luna mumbled and Usagi stilled in her tracks as the shaking transferred itself from underneath her feet to her coffee table.

“Oh Mamo-chan picked a fine time to take out the trash…” Usagi huffed and Luna jumped down from her perch, racing into the living room. She clawed onto the sofa as Usagi stood behind it, guarding herself from the velvet box that was shaking tumultuously before her. “Maybe they want out…” Usagi whispered and glanced at her cat to let out a squeak. “Luna!” She cried.

Luna glanced up at her than at her paws. They were glowing in and out.

“Usagi! Don’t panic… everything is fine…” Luna said suddenly but the panic in her own voice couldn’t be masked. Her body was vanishing. She felt like she was being pulled slowly through an invisible vortex. “Usagi… don’t…” Luna’s words were cut off as her body vanished completely into thin air, leaving only the brown cushy confines of Mamoru and Usagi’s sofa left. Usagi rushed forward and felt the spot Luna was in. It was gone. No traces of Magic… she had just.. vanished. The box carrying Mamoru’s general’s shook violently than threw it’s top open. A piercing scream left Usagi’s lips as she backed up, almost falling to the floor.

“LUNA!”

She was running but she couldn’t tell where she was going. The tears were blurring her vision and she pumped her legs harder. She didn’t mind the pain… she didn’t feel much anymore… She let out a sob as she rounded a corner, the dark streets of Juuban lurking before her. Suddenly her frame was caught around her middle and she spun falling into someone’s arms.

“Minako-chan… what are you…” Makoto breathed holding onto the blonde when immediately her leader started hitting against her.

“Let me go!” Minako cried in a scream and Makoto blinked releasing her as fear jumped to her. She grabbed onto Minako’s swinging arms and stared at the tear-streaked face. “I have to get to her!”

“What happened!?” Makoto screamed out of fear. She had just closed up her restaurant after leaving Usagi’s. She didn’t need to be there… she just had nowhere better to go. Minako came bounding around the corner and she had stopped her to find her leader in shreds.

“He’s gone… He’s gone…” Minako hissed as her legs gave way. “He vanished right before my eyes! I’m a failure!” Minako screamed and Makoto sucked in a deep breath. Everything in her wanted to panic, to go into a million directions as Minako was doing as she collapsed before her. Her face was running with tears as her hair stuck to her. “I have to get to her!” Minako screamed thrashing away form the lightning goddess and Makoto took in their surroundings and quickly pulled the sobbing blonde into her arms. She began moving them quickly down the street as Minako sobbed helplessly into Makoto’s jacket. What in the world could have made the confident Aino, Minako fall apart? After hundreds of battles… death…

“Is Usagi all right?” Makoto stuttered out breathlessly. She was afraid of the answer as she led them quickly towards the apartment complex. Minako shook her head violently.

“I have failed you… I’ve failed… I left and I should have never left… I wasn’t needed… so I did…” Minako was mumbling incoherently now and growing fear and terror was rising within Makoto. She wished more than anything she could just teleport them there. She felt as if every step was spelling out doom for her… not just her but for the Senshi… for their Princess. It was possibly one of the most terrifying moments of her life. The world really was ending if Minako was in hysterics. What in the world was going on?

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So…. What did you think???? I know you read it so you might as well just take the 10 seconds to review. You’ve waited this long for it… might as well.

-Marronett