Tears of Light - Part 15a - Hands

I've divided this chapter into two parts, merely because it's taken me so long 
to write this much.  I have a very busy school life right now and this is a very 
hard chapter to write.  SO, you get this much, and hopefully sometime soon 
you'll get more.  Enjoy!

This chapter's inspiration, and in a small way the whole story's, is Jewel's 
song "Hands" for reasons that will, hopefully, become evident (Part b =Þ).  It 
is a beautiful, inspiring song.  If you've never heard it, find out how to, it's 
well worth it.

********

@~@~@~

If I could tell the world just one thing
It would be that we're all OK
And not to worry 'cause worry is wasteful
And useless in times like these
I won't be made useless
I won't be idle with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
For light does the darkness most fear

My hands are small, I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken 

Poverty stole your golden shoes
But it didn't steal your laughter
And heartache came to visit me
But I knew it wasn't ever after

We'll fight, not out of spite
For someone must stand up for what's right
'Cause where there's a man who has no voice
There ours shall go singing

My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken

In the end only kindness matters
In the end only kindness matters

- The first half of "Hands" by Jewel.

@~@~@~@~

	Goku watched the clash of powers with amazement at both sides and large 
concern.  Mamono was VERY strong and while Usagi, he guessed it was, had managed 
to hold her off for a moment, the end result of the battle had barely deterred 
Mamono.  Usagi, however, wasn't moving.
	Mamoru clutched Usagi's tiny, untransformed body to his chest, tearing off 
his cape and wrapping it around her body.  She was bruised, bloody and only 
barely breathing.  The other senshi had dashed over by then with expressions of 
concern and fear.  Mercury was running a quick scan to determine how dangerous 
Usagi's injuries were.  The rest were relieved once they realized she was alive 
but were fuming with anger and were more than ready to kill.
	Goku hadn't moved.  He stared at Usagi for what seemed like a very long 
time, such a young, innocent looking girl.  She didn't look like a fighter to 
his eyes; she shouldn't have been dragged into this.  It seemed so wrong to the 
Saiyan, and it also made him VERY angry.  Coupled with Mamono's gaze of joy at 
the blonde's current state was all he needed.

	Before the girls could launch their attacks Goku erupted in a fountain of 
golden light.  His scream and power rocked the very foundations of the cavern 
and nearly blew the senshi off their feet.  Goku's golden ki was aflame and 
raging, his hair once again golden, his eyes turquoise.  Anyone else would have 
been afraid.  Mamono just laughed.
	"Well Goku, it seems you've achieved Super Saiyan once again.  It won't 
help you though.  Nothing can now."
	Goku's eyes were narrowed in concentration.  They say that the eyes are 
the windows to the soul; these however, seemed partially shrouded, as if someone 
had placed a light curtain behind them.  Goku's happy-go-lucky personality, all 
the joy that made up what he usually was, vanished when he acquired the level of 
Super Saiyan.
	The senshi stopped.  They'd never seen Goku like this before, though he 
had described it too them they weren't prepared for the absolute change of 
posture.  Everything about the way he held himself suggested anger and barely 
restrained power.  They each had a thirst for vengeance within them, but it 
hadn't changed them.  Still, if it had happened to him before they felt 
confident that, though disturbing, it was the same Goku they had come to know 
over the past three months and for the time being, they stopped their own 
attacks and put their faith in Goku.

In Mamoru's arms, Usagi stirred.

	The first thing she registered was pain and all she wanted to do was crawl 
back into the peacefulness of oblivion.  Then, she began to remember where she 
was.  She felt Mamoru's warmth and Mamono's crushing cold.  The cold terrified 
her but the warmth was so inviting, familiar, it was hope, it was a why she 
fought to protect the earth.  She woke.
	Her eyes flickered open just as Goku's power erupted.  The harsh golden 
light hurt her eyes but she was quickly distracted by Mamoru's light blue ones.
	"Usako?"  Mamoru's breath caught in is throat for a moment; the relief in 
his voice and body language were incredibly obvious.  As gently as possible, he 
moved Usagi into a sitting position.
	Usagi smiled, she was finally back in Mamoru's arms.  How could she not?  
"I'm ok, Mamo-chan.  I'm home."  Despite her pain, and the situation, she 
giggled a little and reached up to kiss Mamoru.  It was a short his but it 
filled them both with warmth, fire and the strength to go on.  They were 
together once more and come hell or high water, they would not be separated 
again.

******

	Sailors Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Venus sat on one of the army vehicle's 
hood.  The army's officials had refused to pull out and there was nothing the 
four women could do about it without hurting someone innocent.
	"So why do you think they haven't moved yet?"  Venus asked, staring at the 
wall of Mamono's creatures that had stopped attacking a few minutes ago.  The 
senshi were slightly bruised and knocked around, but they battle hadn't lasted 
long.
	Uranus shrugged, playing with her sword a little.  "Setsuna figures the 
others are distracting Mamono by now.  She still hasn't told me why it matters 
though... yet."  The sandy haired senshi twirled her talisman around in her 
hands as she spoke.
	They were all itching for action.  But Mamono's army was vast and strong 
and if it meant sparing lives by not provoking them, that's just what they would 
do.
	Sailor Neptune brushed a strand of her aquamarine hair out of her eyes and 
gazed intensely at Pluto.  "So what else are you withholding from us?"  She 
demanded, with a touch of harshness.
	Pluto smiled sadly as was customary for her.  An eternity of knowing what 
was to come and what had already passed, without the power to change it was more 
than any normal person could bear.  Even the legendary Sailor Pluto had a hard 
time dealing with it from time to time.  "Nothing that would be of any help to 
your urge to fight."  She sighed a little. "Even if you were with the others you 
wouldn't be fighting right now.  Simply accept things as they are and all will 
turn out well."
	Venus looked puzzled as she gazed at the darkening sky.  A chill was 
beginning to creep into the air and the both armies were getting restless.  "If 
Mamono's distracted enough to not be able to make her army attack, then why 
don't we go after her too and help out?"
	Uranus answered before Pluto could.  "Because she might not feel safe 
sending them against us, but if we leave this area unguarded her army won't need 
any real guidance."  Her eyes flickered to Pluto's, that is if these creatures 
really are brainless enough to need Mamono's control."
	Setsuna nodded slightly and leapt off the vehicle.  "It's not that they're 
brainless, it's something else.  But the idea is generally right.  I'm not 
completely certain what it is myself anyway."  She straightened and her posture 
changed to one of determination.  "Keep guard here.  The others may need a quick 
exit.  I'm going to the time gate."  Without a further word Pluto vanished to 
her post.  Leaving three restless senshi to deal with a very nervous army of 
humans and a looming army of darkness.

********

	Goku, now Super Saiyan, raised a hand.  A ball of power shot at Mamono 
with all the force of the Super Saiyan behind it.  It hit a barrier of 
blackness.  Mamono laughed and it stopped.  The barrier curled around its 
shimmering surface and in one smooth moment it turned to pure darkness.  Mamono 
put her hand in it and the new energy seeped into her own body.
	Goku narrowed his eyes as Mamono chuckled.  "It was a nice try I must 
admit.  Too bad you didn't throw something more powerful at me, this power born 
of anger is truly wonderful."
	The Saiyan didn't let Mamono faze him and flew at her fists flying.  She 
threw a shield around herself and, while Goku's fists themselves nearly broke 
through, his power was merely absorbed, making Mamono faster.  Goku wasn't the 
brightest of people, but when it came to fighting, he knew better than to keep 
giving the enemy power and backed off.  His fists were clenched in anger; there 
was nothing he could do!  For a brief moment he considered trying to over power 
her but quickly disregarded the idea.  Even if he was stronger she'd recover 
nicely every time she stole his energy instead of deflecting it.
	There were no words for the saddened warriors.  All they wanted was to 
save the Earth but it seemed that they were quickly running out of options.
The senshi wouldn't give up and they stood to face their foe.
	"You've got to have some kind of weakness."  Mercury stated with utter 
conviction.	
	"Ya," Chimed in Mars, "Besides, there's no way you can take us all out at 
once.  Right girls?!"
	The other Sailor Senshi nodded at the obvious statement and the hidden 
one.  They didn't wait one moment.  On that one cue the inner senshi hurled 
their most powerful attacks at Mamono.
	"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"
	"Mars Flame Sniper!"
	"Jupiter Oak Evolution!"
	"Gentle Rain!"

	The four attacks joined, danced together, each power enhancing the other 
and soared for Mamono.

	Tuxedo Kamen helped Usagi to her shaky feet.  The tiny blond was still in 
pain and untransformed.  Wearing merely the skirt and blouse she had been 
wearing when she'd dashed out of Capsule Corp.  Something, however, was calling 
to her and she knew she had to get moving.
	The senshi were attacking Mamono with everything they had.  She merely 
laughed and struck back.  Jagged daggers of darkness arched from her hand, 
striking out at the soldiers of justice.  Their powers were strong, but compared 
to Mamono they were nothing.
	Usagi clutched to Mamoru in horror.  
	Rain Drop screamed in pain as a volley of energy slammed her into the 
jagged walls of the cave.   The eternally young warrior slumped into 
unconsciousness.  She, mercifully though, remained transformed, a hopeful sign.
	Usagi's hand touched her broach lightly.  She was so intensely weak, but 
standing, holding Mamoru for support, helpless, was something she couldn't 
stand!  Not while her friends were being hurt.
	Her fears multiplied, suddenly, when the absence of a certain 4 people 
registered to her.  Not seeing Pluto at a battle scene wasn't extremely 
worrisome, she often stayed at the gates of time, and if Saturn hadn't been 
present she wouldn't have thought anything of her, Neptune and Uranus' absence.  
They, also, tended to disappear for lengthy amounts of time.  However Saturn was 
present, Uranus and Neptune were gone, as was Venus.
	::Mamo-chan?:: She asked mentally, savouring the ease with which she could 
talk to him while she was in his arms.  ::Where are the others?::
	In the instant that mental conversations took place, Mamoru recounted how 
Mamono's army was supposed to be attacking Japan.  Usagi was both relieved and 
more intensely worried.  She moved to say more when the ground shook, violently.  
Even Mamono was caught off guard and nearly toppled by the sudden shifting of 
the earth.
	True, Earthquakes were rather common in Japan.  However, this was strong, 
and Mamono's domain, while buried in a mountain, was not entirely of this 
dimension, especially not this far in.
	Mercury's computer started beeping frantically and she snapped on her 
visor while typing at whirlwind speeds.  For those moments even Mamono waited, 
in silence, wondering what could possibly have affected her lair.
	Mercury frowned, moments later, as the others watched both her and Mamono 
carefully.  "I can't believe this!"  She exclaimed suddenly.  "The dimensional 
rifts we thought were part of Mamono's realm are destabilizing.  It's a 
completely temporal cause, and it looks like it's only going to get worse."
	Mamono snickered in response, "Right.  You're just trying to scare me out 
of here!  Even if you're right, it doesn't bother me.  Let this world tear 
itself apart.  It'll only please me more!"
	Tuxedo Mask's jaw nearly dropped.  "Are you insane?!  This is the very 
fabric of the universe we're talking about here!"
	Mamono's eyes narrowed, her heels clicked on the stone as she took a few 
steps forward.  "Even if this universe tears itself apart, I'll just move to a 
new one and sleep better knowing you no longer exist."
	Usagi's eyes flared with sudden despairing thoughts.  "Like Goku's?!  
We'll never let you!"  She exclaimed back.  It was as if she was suddenly 
defending not just the people of this Earth, but the people of Goku's whom she 
had become so acquainted with over the last months.
	Mamono raised a dark hand.  "You should be dead."  She told Usagi with 
vehemence.  "Too bad Frost didn't accomplish her goal, but I'm to strong to be 
stopped now.  Sayonara, Princess Serenity!"  A great beam of darkness crackled 
from her hand.  Usagi and Tuxedo Mask had no time to move.  Goku was faster 
though; in an instant he threw himself at the frozen couple and dragged them 
away from the blast.
	Though shocked, Tuxedo Mask recovered rather quickly.  "Thank you Goku, 
I'm going to help the girls, take care of Usagi."
	"But-" Goku started, Tux cut him off.
	"Your powers don't hurt her, let me try, someone has to watch her."
	Goku caught the look in Tuxedo's eyes, desperation and utter love for the 
shaky blond now in Goku's arms.  He nodded.  "Good luck."
	Mamono fired again, this time they were both ready, they each dodged in a 
different direction, Goku taking Usagi with him.  Tuxedo rolled to a stand and 
charged Mamono, the girls joined him, all except Mercury who was tending Rain 
Drop's wounds and keeping an eye on the temporal disturbances.
	
	Usagi was instantly frightened for her soul mate but she was still too 
weak to do anything.  The Super Saiyan held her tight and she felt both safe and 
disturbed at the same time.  Something clicked in her mind and she looked up at 
Goku with determination.  "Return to normal!"  She exclaimed suddenly.  This 
power of anger that Super Saiyan provided was too akin to Mamono's.  It 
disturbed her, unsettled her, and she knew it couldn't be helpful.
	Goku looked down at the tiny blond.  Her eyes shimmering with pain as her 
friends and loved fought.  She clung weakly to his stronger frame, but her 
spirit blazed still with intense fire.  Something in her eyes, something in 
those deep blue pools of compassion told him that he had to listen to her.  She 
knew, she was right.  One day, perhaps, he could tame the fire of Super Saiyan, 
but a until that day it would be a power ruled by anger.  In his world that 
wasn't so bad, but in hers...
	His golden hair fell and returned to black, his eyes darkened to normal, 
his happy soul displayed in their depths.
	"You have a beautiful soul Goku."  Usagi told him softly, "I can see why 
Mamono is afraid of you."
	Goku blinked a few times and smiled.  "You have a bright light as well 
Usagi.  Brighter than mine will ever be."
	Usagi felt she should blush or take offense, but coming from Goku's mouth 
it seemed, not flirtation, but a clear, innocent statement of the truth.  
Instead she replied in a surprisingly mature voice, her forehead glowing softly 
with the signal of the moon.
	"Mamono's darkness threatens to smother all of that."
	Goku smiled an extended his hand.  "That's why we have to stop her."
	Usagi nodded and reached her hand for his.

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