Full Moon

written by: Gina Biggs (aka bunny aka haruka)
site: http://secondlight.animehunters.com/
contact: secondlight@animehunters.com
date completed: Nov. 2001
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Episode 09 - Storm on the horizon? A Lover's tears

 No lantern orbs glowed with their dull light in the empress' throne room yet there was an 
odd light glowing steady. The three Kuroihono'o Senshi, Tektites, Calcite, and Rhodonite 
kneeled before the light and stared directly at it. The odd light was that of a hologram 
the empress had created though she hated the light. She raised a pale hand toward it and 
her skin glowed with an uncanny beauty. "My soldiers, you must find the Yoakezuishou 
quickly," the empress announced with some urgency.

 She turned her eyes away from the light and toward the three who kneeled before her. "The 
Sailor Crystal of the dawn soldier must be found. With it we can finally call upon the light
of the universe, control it, and finally end it. You three were chosen because you wanted to 
end that wretched light so you understand... my mission is your mission."

 "How might we find this crystal?" Tektites inquired eagerly. "Was it not lost when the 
soldier's planet was destroyed?"

 "It is possible that it returned to the Galaxy Cauldron, the sea of origin, but it is not 
likely... I feel that it's nearby, hiding from me. If it had returned I would have found it 
by now and taken it!" Opalite answered.

 "If we were to claim this ultimate weapon we might stand a chance against the mystical 
Ginzuishou of this system. Rhodonite you are in charge of this mission. Calcite and Tektites, 
you keep your eyes open as well. With Sailor Ran and Sailor Tyr on this planet, the crystal 
can't be too far away."

 The three soldiers stood to their feet and bowed to their master. Opalite turned her head 
quickly and stared hard at the woman with orange hair. Her eyes narrowed and Calcite could 
feel the icy eyes watching her. "Calcite," the empress called out. Calcite did not raise her 
head.

 Empress Opalite continued, "you are running out of last chances."

******************

 The sun was beginning to set and the orange beams of light were dancing across the Crystal 
Tokyo palace. A chilled wind flew across the tattered land, blowing debris into the air. The 
inhabitants of the palace shuddered as if they too had been touched by that cold wind. In the 
command center, there was a large group of women sitting together. Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, 
Venus, Neptune, Uranus, Pluto, and Saturn sat on the floor in a semi-circle. Moments later 
Juno, Vesta, Ceres, Pallas, Moon, Ran, and Tyr entered. The other girls looked up at them, 
their eyes wide with anticipation. When the moon soldiers shook her head the others in the 
room calmed down slightly, the tension easing. Uranus looked to the aqua haired woman beside 
her, then back to the new group of soldiers. "It's been quiet for hours."

 Venus nodded in agreement and looked over at the sand colored soldier. "It's been almost non 
stop for days. Why have they suddenly stopped now?"

 "It seems strange considering our given condition," Mercury added, her eyes heavy with 
wishful sleep.

 "What can we do except wait?" Ceres asked, rubbing her head.

 The women all looked at each other. Vesta loosely clenched her fist, it was the best she 
could do with the lack of sleep she had gotten since arriving back at Tokyo four days ago. 
"Something has to be done and soon. None of us are going to last much longer..."

 "Not in this condition," Mercury agreed, her eyes fighting just to stay open. "We've been 
going non-stop for too long. Our life forces as Sailor Soldiers are strong, but even we have 
our limits."

 Jupiter looked at her tired and worn comrades. "At this rate we'll be wiped out for sure."

******************

 She felt encompassed by the darkness of her room and it brought her some comfort. Wrapped 
in bed sheets she hoped to feel some warmth, but there was none. From her bed she looked to 
the wall and it immediately became transparent, allowing her to gaze at the star decorated 
space. Earth hung far off in the distance. "I have no choice, but to continue on. I must do 
what I have been sent to do, no matter the cost. Time is running out... in the morning Earth 
will find me standing on it's ground once more."

 Calcite reached out from the sheets and touched the hilt of her sword. Her fingers moved 
in a tickling motion across it before she pulled away again. Her eyes were dulled by the 
surfacing of memories. "That woman, her star was taken... by my hands."

 "The light of this sword has become tarnished with the blood of so many." She shook her head 
hoping to clear her thoughts, but to no surprise the haunting images would not disappear. 
"Dirty... these hands are so dirty...."

 Her thoughts drifted to the one she loved and the look in his eyes when she had shut him 
out. For a moment she shut her eyes, once again hoping to shut out the memories. It was then 
that a loud thumping was heard. She jumped to attention at the sound and realized that someone 
was knocking on her door.

******************

 "Our forces are weakening," a grave, but soft voice said. Neo Queen Serenity was sitting on 
the bed looking down at her ill husband's. She took his hand in hers and squeezed it gently. 
Endymion looked up into her eyes and saw the reflection of sadness shining there.

 "What of our sailor soldiers?" he asked in a whispered voice.

 She queen did not avert her eyes from him to hide her concern. "They have had no chance to 
regain their strength with the constant attacks. No one has even slept more than ten minutes 
straight in the past four days. I can feel them loosing themselves and I fear that if they 
must fight again tonight this will be our end."

 "Then let us hope that the enemy does not attack until dawn so that we may--" Endymion's 
words cut off as he began to cough violently. He snatched his hand away from the queen to 
covered his mouth.

 When he quieted, he pulled his hand away to find a small spray of blood on his palm. The 
queen's face grew disturbed with worry. "Endymion," she thought to herself, "you are getting 
worse. As the Earth cries out in pain, so do you. I feel your pain as well... deep in my 
heart. We will not lose to these foes."

******************

 She stood at her door in silence as she stared at the man's face. His eyes almost seemed 
to glow by the dull light of the orb lantern floating a couple feet from him. "Go away," 
Calcite muttered as she tried to shut the door once again.

 Tektites' face scrunched up in anger and he swiftly placed his hand against the door, 
stopping the woman from closing it. Calcite's eyes widened with surprise. She backed 
several feet away from the door as he pushed it open with much force. The large door 
swung hard and bounced back, slammed shut within moments. Tektites was now inside with 
her. She was trapped and had no choice but to face him.

 "What are you doing?!" Calcite shouted at him, still much surprised by his boldness.

 "I want to know what is going on!" he yelled back.

 "I don't know what you're talking about," she retorted looking offended.

 Tektites looked at her and in those few moments of silence between them he took in all 
that was her. Her orange hair was held high in it's ponytail like always and it bounced 
as she turned her head from him. He noted that her dress had been wrinkled and her bare 
legs were slightly pink as though she had been sitting in one place for too long. He shook 
himself back into what was going on. He couldn't calm down now. He knew if he did he might 
lose his nerve. "Why are you pushing me away, Calcite? I want to know why!"  he demanded.

 "Haven't you figured it out? I don't love you!!" Her face was flushed, as though she was 
going to cry or had already been crying at some point. There were no tears in her eyes but 
he could not see her face clearly in the darkness anyway.

 Silence was all that moved through the room. Tektites did not say anything and neither did 
she. She stood there and wondered if she had gone too far in trying to shut him out. Even 
though her eyes had been adjusted to the darkness she did not see him when she looked back 
up to where he had been. She wondered if he had left the room though she heard nothing. To 
her side she felt a hand grab her wrist tightly and before she could voice her surprise her 
mouth was covered by another. Soft, familiar lips pushed hard at hers as the kiss deepened 
but she did not fight. She could only respond honestly at this point. When the lips pulled 
away from hers Tektites spoke to her, his voice calm and reassured, "I don't believe you."

 His grip loosened from her wrist though he did not release her. "I love you and I won't let 
go of you... not now, not ever."

 She raised her arm and took his hand in hers. Gently she kissed his rough knuckles before 
holding his hand to her chest. He could feel her heart beating wildly. "I love you," she 
said slowly, "but for us, it cannot be. I am a coward and a traitor to my planet and soon 
I will have to confront that sin."

 "What do you mean?" he asked cautiously.

 "I was born with a Sailor Crystal within my bosom. Yes, I was a Sailor Soldier with a 
shining light once. But I gave up that light, I tarnished myself and accepted the darkness. 
Opalite-sama only spared me so that she would have a strong ally as she fought others with 
lights such as mine. It hasn't turned out that way."

 The man's jaw had inadvertently dropped open. He could not believe what he was hearing. 
She continued to speak. "Tektites, become a great soldier worthy of honor. Also, please 
remember me. I do not wish to only be remembered as a traitor."

 "Calcite, you will be victorious tomorrow. Don't worry. Opalite-sama will not abandon you! 
Neither will I!"

 A small smile took the place of her frown. "Don't let go of me tonight," she pleaded. With 
that he took her into his arms and laid her on the bed. There he kissed her once more.


End Episode 09.


Episode Notes:
Wow! Two chapters in one month!! I found a little time and much needed inspiration to 
write these two for you this month. It's a big thank you for being patient with me. I'm 
still extremely busy with many things (including taking care of my sick family member), 
but things have calmed a bit at the moment. This chapter kinda took a little break from 
all the fighting. I think this interval was much needed in the story. I liked the interaction 
with Tektites and Calcite in this one because Tektites finally showed a little boldness.