Hello, I'll make this a.n. (author's note) short. I've decided to use the Japanese names for all the senshi (this would be my first time). I bet those out there who has emailed me about this are happy. ^_~ PLEASE email me and tell me what you think of my story. Critiques, compliments, suggestions, questions, anything would be fine. Just drop me a line! My inbox is getting pretty lonely!! ^_~ Usual disclaimers: Sailor Moon and all its characters and likeliness belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha/Toei. English translation is made possible by DiC. My email address: ml_eclipse@hotmail.com << >> = thoughts [ ] = author's note Rated: PG I hope you'll like this fanfic! Enjoy! ============================================================================ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> A Shepherd's Kiss <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< ========================= << By Cosmos >> ================================== Chapter 3: The Renegade Kingdom…Earth The images constantly haunted her feverish mind, her father, her mother and the dark hand that slaughtered them both. Again and again she saw their battered bodies drowning in a pool of their very own blood. "Mother! Father!" she screamed, her legs pumping maddeningly beneath her as she tried to run toward them. But no matter how hard she ran, she never seemed to be able to get any closer to them. Always, they remained a certain distance out of her desperate reach. "NO!" Serenity cried again, tears streaming down her face in uncontrollable rivers. She stretched her arms toward them with her fingers straining to touch them. Yet ceaselessly, she fell short of reaching them. Even in her dreams the knowledge that she had lost them would surge into her mind. Suddenly, she saw her mother's body moved and then her face lifted to gaze at her. Dark misty eyes stared at her with accusations clearly reflecting in them. "Why did you let us die?" they seemed to say. "Why did you not help us? You betrayed us, Serenity! You had let them murder us. Traitor! You've betrayed us!" "Nooooo!" Serenity screamed in agony. "I didn't want you to die! I tried to help. I really tried, but what could I have done? You told me to hide. You've forced me to hide!" "You've betrayed us, Serenity," her mother's eyes accused. "No, I didn't! I tried! Please believe me, mother! I tried to help!" Suddenly she saw a familiar and loved face of a young girl of sixteen with flaming red hair. "Traitor," the girl uttered, "it is all your fault. You are a weakling Serenity! You are a coward!" "Please!" Serenity begged, "Please forgive me! I tried…I…truly tried." Unexpectedly, the image of the young girl's twisted into an eerie shape and then another face appeared in its place…Radon's. "Traitor!" she screamed with rage, "Murderer! You've taken them away from me! You killed them! *You* are to blame! How could you do such a thing, after all that they have done for you! They saved you from execution on Earth, and this is how you repay them? Radon! You will die, you here me?! I will kill you! I will kill you with my bare hands!" He did not respond. Instead, he gave her his cruel smile and shot a hand out to grab her. Catching her wrist, he cried out in a voice that chilled Serenity to her bones, "You are no match for me, weakling. You shall be the one to meet death, foolish girl!" As she tried to yank her hand out of his painful grip, he said, "There's no escaping me, little Princess! Soon you'll be joining your parents in hell!" and he let out a cruel laughter. "NO!" "No!" she cried as she awakened from the nightmare, perspiration soaking her face and hair. Soon realizing that it was only a dream, she slowly calmed down and was able to regain control of her chaotic mind. Gradually she took notice of her dingy surrounding. Her eyes caught threatening shadows huddling in far corners of her enclosure. Beams of moonlight streamed down from a barred window high above her head providing little light to the dark chamber. She could see dirty walls of old brick surrounding her on all sides. Trickles of water and squeaks of numerous rats sounded from within the shadows. She soon realized that the place stank of urine, dead rats, and who knows what other carcasses hidden within the darkness. <> she soon thought to herself. <> Confused and slightly nauseated from the foul odors invading her nostrils, Serenity began to move her legs from its awkward position beneath her. Still dizzy from the blow Radon gave her, she attempted to stand. Cradling her throbbing head, she began to look for an exit of any sort that might lead her out of this abyss. Suddenly, a small, tired voice spoke from across the enclosure, "There's no way out if that's what you're looking for." Upon hearing the unseen stranger, Serenity swirled around with eyes narrowed as she attempted to catch sight of the owner of the soft whisper. "Who's there?" she asked with fear evident in her voice. She heard a slight rustle as someone began to stand up, then soft pattering of shoeless feet filled the large chamber. The thin beams of moonlight reflected off of soft strands of ebony colored hair and mysterious violet eyes that appeared to glow like those of a cat in the dark. Stepping out into what little light there was, a young girl revealed herself. Serenity observed her every movement, while carefully analyzing her profile. She saw, to her amazement, a small girl about half her height and age stepped out from the protection of the shadows. The young girl reflected Serenity's gaze with mysterious dark violet eyes that seemed to hold wisdom far beyond their years. The child had only a dirty piece of discarded fabric as a mean for clothing. She looked like a youngster dressed as a ghost for Halloween with the tablecloth strewn over her head, only this ghost has created openings for her head and arms. A dirty piece of rope was tied around her small waist in order to keep the cloth on her malnourished body. Serenity quickly noticed that the young girl was drudging around the filthy prison barefooted. Her small feet were scarred by the rough terrain it was forced to walk through. Emotions of sympathy for the child overcame her fear as Serenity went over to the girl. She bent down and took off her own silver slippers, smeared with dirt and blood, and placed them on the poor child's small feet. "It's a bit large, but it's better than going barefoot," Serenity whispered in a voice that was both calm and gentle as never been heard by anyone before. The light of kindness reflected in her somber blue gaze as she again observed the young girl. A small-unused smile adorned the child's innocent face as her weak voice barely made audible these two words, "Thank you." "Don't mention it," Serenity replied. "What is your name, little one?" "I do not have a name," the child replied, her mournful gaze fell to the dark floor. "Did your parents' not give you a name when you were born?" "I never knew my parents," she replied, "I was taken away from them since birth. If it weren't for the knowledge that my existence was owed to my parents, I would have thought I had never had any at all." "It appears that you and I have found a commonality," Serenity said, emotions of unbelievable sorrow rose into her somber gaze. The child looked up in surprise and asked, "Have you never known your parents' either?" "No, I know…I *knew* my parents. I lived with them since all but last night, when…" and she clenched her fist tightly, desperately trying to gain control of her quickening heartbeat, "when someone murdered them…and I saw it all with my own eyes." Tears rose into her azure eyes, but she quickly wiped them away before they fell. Since last night, she has vowed not to shed any tears until she has Radon at the mercy of her sword. Serenity gazed back down at the young child, surprised as to why she was telling her all this. There was something about the little girl that drew Serenity's heart to her. A strange, yet warm and trustful, atmosphere seemed to surround this little child; that made Serenity feel she could trust her even when she did not truly know her. "Well, you must have a name if I am to call you by anything," Serenity said changing the subject that brought so much pain to her and this young girl. "What do others call you?" "By many names," the child replied in her soft mystical voice, "but most adults I've met seemed to like calling me Brat, although I know not why." "Well…," Serenity said hesitantly, "I think that name is a bit overused. Besides, it doesn't suit you at all. Now, let's put our heads together and think up a new name for you. "Let's see," Serenity thoughtfully tapped her lower lip in concentration while the young girl watched with silent curiosity. Suddenly, Serenity snapped her fingers and exclaimed, "I got it!". Placing her attention back on the child she asked, "How about Christine?" A small frown answered her question. "Guess I didn't get it. Oh, how about…Sheryl? No? Liona? No? Christy? You don't like that either, huh?" For a brief moment, Serenity fell into a thoughtful silence as the girl continued to watch on. Serenity's gaze unexpectedly fell onto the child's mysterious violet eyes that appeared like pools of swirling amethysts under the faint light of the pale moon. As the celestial body's movement across the dark velvet sky created shadows on the young girl's face, Serenity saw-to her amazement-how her beautiful eyes seemed to glow like two small fireflies dancing under the cloak of darkness. "Now I know," Serenity said slowly, all previous excitement gone from her face as a serious light appeared, "there can be only one name for you, little one." "Really?" the child asked with subtle excitement by the secrecy in Serenity's voice. "What could it be? Please, tell me." A smile crossed Serenity's pale face as she whispered, "Hotaru." "Hotaru," the child echoed thoughtfully, trying the feel of the sound against her tongue. "I like that name." "So do I," Serenity said, "and this one definitely suits you very well." "And your name?" Hotaru asked. "I'm Prin…I'm Serenity," she replied. "Serenity," the child whispered the name as if it was a magical spell. "That name suits you very well, too." Laughing, Serenity replied, "Why thank you Hotaru!" Calming down, she continued, "Well, Hotaru, can you tell me where we are and who brought us here?" "A lady by the name of Major Silica and a young man brought you here earlier this morning. I tried to awaken you, but you seemed unconscious." Upon hearing the name of the Major, the dark images of the previous night seared into her mind, rose to the surface again. So defined was the memory that Serenity could still smell the sickening odor of blood that choked her to the point of suffocation. <> she thought angrily. <> "She is no lady," Serenity hissed through tight jaws. Hotaru watched with great concern of the sudden change in Serenity's emotional state. Dark blue flames of pure hatred burned brightly in the young woman's eyes while her hands were clenched tightly at her side until her knuckles turned a deadly white. Seeing Serenity possessed with so much hatred brought fear into the child's tender heart. Never before has she seen such heights of emotion beheld in any one soul. Serenity was gazing directly at Hotaru but all she saw was the horrific images raging in her mind and the turmoil in her heart. Suddenly, she felt soft, warm hands clutch desperately onto her tight fist. She quickly snapped out of her reverie and glanced down in surprise to see the child holding onto her with small delicate pale hands as if she feared Serenity would somehow suddenly disappear. And, indeed, for a moment, Hotaru did fear that she would disappear beneath her rage. A tear escaped from a violet eye and drifted down her pale cheek. Serenity's eyes widen in surprise. She raised a hand and gently wiped it away. "Why are you crying, little one?" she asked. "Because I fear to lose you, Serenity," the child whispered through her tears. "Lose me?" the young woman asked, evidently surprised by Hotaru's strange reply. At the time, Serenity did not understand the true meaning of those words spoken to her. She did not see what the young child saw. Despite her small age, Hotaru has an unusual ability to understand and interpret things that most adults would never be able to perceive. This small infant has a hold of wisdom that went well beyond her years. A kind smile swept across Serenity's face as she bent lower until her face was at the same level as Hotaru's and whispered in a gentle voice, "You would never lose me. I'll always be there for you when you need me, Hotaru." "Promise?" "I promise," Serenity said. At that moment, she knew that a strong bond of friendship was formed between her and this little child, whom she met only moments earlier. Their bond would soon grow from friendship to that as intimate as sisters. As destiny would have it, Hotaru would soon prove to be the most important light that helped guide Serenity through her treacherous ordeal to overcome the hatred polluting her soul and imprisoning her heart in ice. Hotaru and one other. The child observed Serenity's face, half hidden in shadow, and saw-much like the young man before her-a beautiful soul chained down with grief and anger. She could see what fate has set out for this young woman and what forked paths she would eventually encounter. But in order to triumph, the child knew that Serenity must overcome the hatred rivaling the hidden love within her pure soul. She must learn to listen to her heart and not to the pain inflicted by past wounds. In the end Serenity must decide between love or hate, justice or revenge. "I'm glad you are here with me," Hotaru said. "It gets quite scary staying down here alone, especially at night." "And I'm pleased to have you for a companion too, Hotaru. Now I see that Silica is just a lowly worm imprisoning a child like this. When I get out I'll make her pay for the pains to has inflicted on you." "Please, Serenity," Hotaru pleaded, "you should not always think about vengeance and payments. Those who decide to take the dark path would eventually pay for the consequences of their decision. You should not chase after them on the same road, or you may soon realize that you will never be able to find your way back. Then their fate will in turn become yours. So forget about your quest for revenge and try to find something else to pursue instead." Watching those soft purple eyes, Serenity pondered on the words Hotaru had just said. "I cannot forget, Hotaru," she replied in a soft mournful voice, "you see, vengeance is all I have left. There is nothing else for me in this life. My kingdom, my parents, my very world have been taken from me. I only continue now so that my parents' murder and betrayal may be avenged. That is all I now possess, the clothes on my back, the painful memories in my soul, and the anger in my heart." "But you were not like this once," Hotaru said. "I know because I could see the love in your eyes. I know you have a kind heart." Serenity shook her head depressingly, "Perhaps, at one time I was all that, but that Serenity have long since died. She is now only a shadow of the past; and it is that past that has created the person you see standing before you. I ask that you do not look for this girl any longer. Do not seek what is not there. Accept me as I am and do not ask me to be what I was never meant to be. <> Hotaru thought in response, <