Cycle of Our Souls: Heart of Ice
Part I
Moon Raven
aka, M is for Mars
Disclaimer(s) and my always long-winded notes:
Hmmm... last time I checked I didn't own Sailor Moon. I'd check again, but I'm sure I still don't. Oh well.
For those of you who may be starting the "Cycle of Our Souls" series here, you're gonna be kinda confused. The order is "Cycle of Our Souls: Heart's Fire" (known just as "Cycle of Our Souls" on ASMR), "Heart's Love" and then "Heart's Thunder". The text between lines of "---asterisk---" symbols is Amy's thoughts in the present, somewhere between SMR and SMS; the text between "-" symbols is Silver Millennium stuff; and anything else is just regular ol' narrative that takes place a few weeks in the past.
Please review me!
Have fun!
The young man awoke with a gasp, the power of the dream grabbing him in the guts and twisting painfully. His blond curls were plastered against his skin, damp with sweat. His breath came in pants, and he sat up, throwing the covers aside desperately. What the hell...? Lately he'd been having strange, mind-bending dreams of a place that seemed familiar but wasn't... but never had he dreamt of sitting beside the fountain at Juuban park giving some guy relationship advice.
His own words in the dream echoed around inside his skull: "The princess will die... what will become of the prince? Of Small Lady? Of Crystal Tokyo?" He had no idea what he had meant, but vague memories from past dreams brought the image of a blond girl with a strange hairstyle to mind. He shook his head and stood up, heading to the bathroom.
He flipped on the light, blinking hard in the sudden glare, and turned on the tap to splash cold water on his face. He rubbed hands across tired, bloodshot eyes and stared at his reflection in the mirror. A girl with indigo eyes and hair only a shade or so paler seemed to stare back at him, and he blinked again. The image disappeared, but he knew it wouldn't stay away. Lately the girl had been everywhere he looked, and he had no idea why.
His head ached. Gods, he was going completely bonkers! Visions of blue-haired girls danced in his head... he smiled a little ruefully, remembering that as a child the idea of frolicking sugarplums had been terrifying, and went into the kitchen to grab something to eat. Perhaps a snack would settle his nerves a little, and he would be able to go back to sleep. Not likely, but there was always a chance.
He glanced out the window as he passed and saw that it was still dark outside -- or as dark as it ever got so close to downtown Tokyo - and wondered vaguely what time it was. A peek at his watch revealed that it was only a little after one. Hopefully the early hour would give him plenty of time to go back to sleep. Hopefully... but, once again, not likely.
The sudden ringing of the doorbell was nearly enough to send him into catatonic shock in his wired, frayed state. Now who the hell would be coming to visit him in the middle of the night! Ghosts, most likely... ghosts and goblins and ghouls. He shivered and hurried to answer the door.
A ghost was, in fact, waiting on the other side of the door for him, but not the type that was the spirit of the dead... no, this ghost was one from a dream. It was the blue-haired girl, and suddenly he felt as though he was going to be sick as he sank to the floor.
---insert line of asterisks here---
I really didn't mean to scare the poor man half to death. I was knee deep in a very complicated theorem when I realized I was out of coffee. It was late, of course, but I had heard him coming in far later than one thirty in the morning! He lived only a few doors down from me, so I figured he was the best one to ask.
When he opened the door, the first thing I noticed was how tired he looked. His eyes were bloodshot, his skin pale, his long, curly blond hair tangled. Then he looked at me - really looked - and he nearly fainted. I could see it in the way his legs suddenly seemed unable to support him, the way he grabbed onto the doorjamb as though he were a drowning man and it, a life raft. His face turned several alarming shades ranging from chalky white to greenish gray.
I realized, rather incongruously, that under normal circumstances he would be quite beautiful. He was tall and slender, and the hands that gripped the doorjamb were elegantly formed, with long, sensitive fingers. (I always have noticed hands, capable hands, talented-looking hands... I guess it has something to do with wanting to be a doctor. A doctor must have good hands.) His eyes were bright green, the color of emeralds, and normally I'm sure they were quite alert and intelligent. Right then they just looked scared witless.
At the time I wondered what could possibly make a man so incredibly frightened of such a small, meek little thing as me. I know now, of course, but it would be quite a while before he would explain things to me. I have no idea why it never occurred to me that he, with his fey, angelic beauty, could possibly be the fourth. I guess it just wasn't something I wanted to deal with. I just wanted to get my coffee and go back to my own apartment. I wanted to finish the stupid theorem and go to bed and get up and go... to the temple... to Serena.
In that moment I saw in those wide, terrified green eyes a kinship between us. I saw that he feared sleep even as I did, only for different reasons. He was haunted by dreams... I was haunted by the morning to come, a morning that would bring more frustration and stupid, angry helplessness. I was supposed to be the "smart one," yet I couldn't find the solution to Serena's illness. Some connection was forged at that moment, and I knew it would take something pretty damn fierce to break it. I wonder if he felt it, too?
---insert line of asterisks here---
"Are you all right?" she asked in a sweet, lilting voice. It wasn't at all frightening, wasn't anywhere close to the angry roar he expected to emerge. Strange... why did he just assume that the girl would be out to hurt him, that his dreams were a warning?
He brushed blond curls from his eyes and stared up at her. She was very pretty... milk-pale skin, indigo eyes, short, thick, dark blue hair that curled around her face... "Hai, I'm fine. I didn't mean to startle you," he said quietly.
She knelt down next to him and pressed a small hand against his forehead. "You don't have a fever, but you look like you haven't slept in ages!" Her eyes widened and a blush tinged her cheeks. "Oh, gomen, how rude of me!" she gasped.
He smiled for what seemed like the first time in weeks. "It's ok. You're right, anyway. Bad dreams."
She nodded knowingly. "I don't sleep much either," she said in a soft, confiding tone. "Not because of dreams, but for... other reasons." She held out a hand to him. "Can I help you stand?"
He accepted and they both straightened up, but neither let go. "I'm Zachary Sorenson, by the way. I don't think we've ever met."
"No," she said in a wondering tone, "I don't believe we have. I'm Amy Anderson. I live a few doors down."
"Oh, right... your mom's a doctor, ne? I think I may've met her before. What are you doing up so late?"
She dropped his hand and stepped back quickly. "It's only a little after one! I was busy working on something and realized I was out of coffee. I thought I might be able to borrow some from you. I didn't mean to disturb you."
She turned to go, and he panicked. That wasn't his intention at all! 'What passion hangs these weights upon my tongue'! he quoted to himself in rueful desperation. "Amy-san, matte. I didn't mean to be so rude... I just don't have many visitors, and apparently all my manners have dissolved into a pool of goo. Please come in. I'll make you your coffee and... and... you can tell me about what you're working on so diligently."
She hesitated a moment. "You don't have to make it. That isn't necessary," she said at last.
He relaxed and a genuine smile graced his handsome features. "It's ok. If you have the time, I would like the company."
Charmed in spite of herself, she returned the smile with one of her own, and the true force of his beauty caressed her with its warm glow. She tried to ignore it, but not even Amy Anderson, girl genius, was immune to its power.
At that moment his thoughts were very similar to hers. How could I have thought her some beast? She is like... like a goddess. No, nothing so grand; the comparison would make her blush; more like a sprite... a little water sprite. That decided, he stepped out of the doorway and motioned for her to come inside.
Raye Hino opened her eyes and blinked twice, three times. A glance at her alarm clock told her it was nearly two in the morning. What had awoken her so suddenly? She sat up in bed, stretching her psychic senses to the limit, searching for the source of her abrupt unease. Was this how it was for Serena when the Darkness came for her? she wondered suddenly, shivering.
She closed her eyes and listened, and the usual night-sounds of the temple eased her mind a little. Still worried, though, she pulled herself out of bed and tiptoed through the shrine until she came to Serena's room. She pushed back the rice paper screen and knelt there a moment, looking at her unnaturally still friend with a deep sadness.
"Raye?" a soft, trembling voice said from behind her.
She whipped around, dark hair flying, and stared at the vision with wide, frightened eyes. "Kami-sama!" she murmured fervently.
"I'm so scared, Raye," the figure said, moving closer.
The miko jerked back. "Nai! What are you!" she cried.
"It's just me, Raye... just Serena. Please help me! I'm so scared... it's so cold... where am I?" The ghostly image of Serena leaned closer and said in a confiding whisper, "The fourth has been found, Raye. It's only a matter of time now. Tell Amy she must hurry! I'm dying... it's stealing my soul. I need my soul, Raye!" she said, her voice suddenly high and childish.
"Oh, Serena," she murmured, her dark eyes filling with tears.
"Don't cry, Raye, please don't. Just tell Amy to hurry. Please hurry."
"Hai, Serena, I'll tell her. Just hang on, ok?"
She smiled waveringly, and after a moment the image began to fade. "I've gotta go now. If I'm discovered..." She shook her head quickly. "I'll see you soon, Raye, see you for real! Do me a favor though?"
"Anything!" she cried desperately.
"Go to the Crown and get a double chocolate milkshake with chocolate chips, a double bacon cheeseburger and a large order of fries? Oh... and maybe a large pepperoni pizza with extra cheese? I'm so hungry!" she said plaintively.
Raye didn't know whether to laugh or scream, and before she could make up her mind the image was gone. A slow grin began to spread across her pretty face, and for the first time since the mysterious force took a hold of their friend, Raye felt some hope. Maybe they could win after all. Maybe everything would work out just fine!
Whistling merrily, the dark-haired miko returned to bed and fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.
"Amy! Hey, Amy!" she vaguely heard a voice calling from across the street. Shaking her head to clear it, the blue-haired girl waved to her friend as the tall brunette bounded across four lanes of traffic. "Are you ok, Amy?" she asked, concern etched in her emerald eyes. "I've been calling you forever! You seem pretty spaced out."
"Spaced out?" she asked, her voice coming from someplace far away. "No... sorry. I guess I'm just tired. I didn't get much sleep last night."
"Worried about Serena?" Lita asked with an understanding smile.
Amy's small teeth clenched together at the mention of the name. "Hai," she answered shortly, though it wasn't the reason for her lack of sleep the night before.
Lita stared at her friend curiously, wondering what secrets were hiding behind those deep, pained indigo eyes. Violet smudges marred the pale skin beneath them, and the girl's mouth was weighed down with tired lines. But at the same time... "Ahhh!" she cried, suddenly stumbling upon the answer to this particular enigma. "You've met someone, haven't you!" she exclaimed, delighted.
"Nani!" Amy cried frantically, wondering how Lita could know about Zachary. Oh Gods oh Gods oh Gods oh Gods! No! Lita and the others could not find out about him until... until when? Until... well, they just couldn't find out! "Met someone?" She laughed nervously, reminding the dark-haired girl painfully of Serena, and said, "Where would you get that idea? I never meet anyone. All I do is study, remember?"
Grinning triumphantly, Lita knew she'd hit her mark. "Yeppers, you got allll the signs of a girl on her way to being in love! So what's his name, huh!"
"Being in love?" she echoed with a disdainful sniff. "Hardly, unless one can fall in love with theorems and sonnets. Though I do suppose the latter isn't too farfetched... and a good theorem can sometimes sound like poetry..." Lost in a daze of Shakespeare and Pythagoras, Amy wandered into the school building, not realizing that Lita was no longer at her side.
The brunette was standing on the steps of Juuban Junior High with her jaw hanging down almost to her shoes. Good Gods, this is worse than I thought! Not only is she in love, she's a complete nutcase, too! This calls for some serious therapy... I wonder if I could talk her into blowing off class after lunch and hitting the arcade? She paused in her thoughts and shook her head slowly. Now I'm sounding like the crazy one. Amy blow off school? Sure. She'll do it in order to go ice-skating in Hell with the rest of us!
The blue-haired girl was standing in front of her locker changing shoes when Lita finally joined her. "I was thinking maybe this weekend we could get the guys and go to the park for a picnic. We haven't done that in ages."
"A picnic without Serena?" Lita said, wrinkling her nose in confusion.
Amy shrugged. "Maybe it would be good for us. It would get us away from the temple, ne? And maybe it would distract Darien for half a second... he's beginning to look worse than Death warmed over. I'm worried about his health, and he can't afford to let his grades slip, either."
"Ames, look, I'm gonna ask you one more time and I want a straight answer. What the hell is up with you! Talk to me, girl," she said, grabbing her friend by the shoulders and staring hard into her dark blue eyes.
"Lita! Let me go. Nothing's wrong!"
She said nothing, simply stared harder.
Amy let out a long sigh. "All right, all right. Last night I met someone. It's nothing like that, Lita! Calm down. He's just a nice guy. We talked for a while, and then I stayed up even later working on some stuff for class today. Does that make you happy?"
She let go and turned back to her own locker, pulling out her shoes with a thoughtful look. "What's this cutey's name, huh?" she asked at last, an irrepressible grin - or at least it had been irrepressible since a certain auburn-haired man made his entrance into her life - erupting on her pretty face.
Sighing again, Amy retrieved her school bag from the floor. "Zachary. He lives a few doors down from me. Now I'm going to class. Hurry up or you're going to be late."
Lita watched her go with a knowing grin, a sudden mischievous light sparking in her bright green eyes. Oh, Mina was gonna love this!
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I guess a picnic was a pretty dumb idea after all. Lita brought enough food for an army (or at least the one-woman eating machine known as Serena Tsukino, who, of course, was conspicuously absent), but no one ate much. No one talked much. No one laughed at all. It was more like a wake than a picnic, and I've never felt lonelier in my life - at least not since meeting Serena and the girls.
And it was awkward too; Darien was there alone because of Serena's illness, and it's like a half of him was missing. The others had their boyfriends and I was... alone. No half missing like Darien; just alone. I worry about all of it sometimes. Was Zoisite resurrected? If he was, is he good or evil? Will he still be in love with Malachite? And what if Malachy decides that Zoisite is the one for him after all? What will that do to Mina? What if I meet Zoisite and he's a big jerk? What if I don't meet Zoisite? Is he my soul mate? If I don't meet him, am I destined to spend the rest of my life alone?
I guess the others would say I worry a little too much, but I can't help it. They all have someone. Serena and Darien know they're going to be King and Queen of Crystal Tokyo... or they are if we can figure out how to help Serena. We have to have Zoisite to do that, don't we? So that means I have to meet him... but where? How? When? What if I pass him on the street every morning and don't even know it? It was pure chance that Mina and Malachy and Lita and Neil met... so what if fate isn't working in my favor the day I happen to be running late?
I've just got to stop thinking about it. It'll happen because these things happen. I should know that by now, shouldn't I? Who, after all, would have put our little group together? But here we are, bound together by ties of fate and destiny and power. All right, then... everything works out in the end. Somehow.
End I