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Chapter 15: Consequences

Artemis continued searching Minako's quarters after he arrived, until he heard some noises outside the door. He managed to get out of the room swiftly, and immediately spotted the trouble. Heion is still struggling to free herself from the grip of Narcissus, and Artemis knows that he is going to have to do something since no one else is around. He jumps up at Naricissus as she runs past, and latches onto her arm with his teeth and claw. Narcissus, not expecting the sudden bought of pain, releases Heion by sheer reflex and Artemis sees no other alternative but to order the girl to run.

The shades are most definitely not pleased. As Artemis still clings to Narcissus' arm, Circe bellows, "Cat! this will be your last heroic attempt!" then she sends the power of her Dark Blast hurling towards Artemis. The cat is easily removed from Narcissus' arm and sent her into the wall.

Narcissus is more than prepared to finish the job of killing the white cat, but Circe stops her. They haven't the time to deal with him now and surely this occurrence will bring the other senshi out into the open. She grabs Narcissus and pulls her to the exit, saying that they will have to try and nab Heion another day... Then they enter the shuttle with Nyx and flee towards Earth.

Artemis weakly looks after them as they run madly for the shuttle bay, his breathing ragged and causing pain each time he inhaled or exhaled. He takes another long, painful breath and thinks, 'At least they didn't get Heion...' Then he lets the darkness run wild...

Soon after, Chenoa and Kodia come upon Heion, who had been running in the direction. She quickly explains to them about Artemis saving her and leads them back tot he fallen cat. Kodia tends to him, listening as Heion asks her mother to heal the wounded animal. Kodia places a hand on his would be wife's shoulder, saying, "I think it would not hurt to try my love."

Just then, Minako was realizing that a day in Yahara's dimension, had equaled a little over half an hour in her present dimension. She hoped that maybe no one had noticed she left and set about changing and hiding all evidence that she had ever left her room... She was still wrestling with whether or not she should tell the other about what happened, and wondered where Artemis was... He'd be able to help...

Once Minako was sure she had hidden all evidence of her excursion and changed into something suitable, she headed out the door of her room to find the cat... Forgetting the gaudy ring on her left hand. As she continued to have an internal struggle over what exactly she should do, she came across the ancient family... And Kodia was cradling a small, white object in his arms...

Minako felt all the blood drain from her face and she shrieked, "Artemis!" she rushed forward and took her cat from Kodia's arms. She knew she was crying again, but she didn't have the strength to acknowledge it. She looked over Artemis quickly and saw that he was injured badly. She vowed right then and there to get whoever had done this to him.

"Artemis... I'm so sorry... It's my fault... If only I'd been here..." Minako whispered through her sobs. She felt herself nearing hysteria again and she bent down and whispered, "Please Artemis... I can't lose you too..."

Eventually Chenoa took Artemis from Minako and said, "Let me try to help Minako-chan... Hopefully I will have some power."

Chenoa holds Artemis gently in her arms and closes her eyes. She concentrated on the white cat and on the process of healing him. While she concentrated on Artemis, Kodia noticed a faint glow around Chenoa almost as if it were an aura appearing around her. In the glow, the image of the Goddess of Ancients appeared for a brief moment and then vanished. Then Chenoa handed Artemis back to Minako, and she begins to pass out form her injuries and from the successful healing. Kodia has to hold the woman upright as Artemis regains consciousness and immediately asks if Heion is all right. Minako confirms that she is and hugs the cat tightly.

"I'll be all right... Where were you? I went to your room, not without some difficulty, only you weren't there..."

Minako felt her skin turn a shade lighter as she realized that she had been found out. She could only hope that she could skate around that subject for now, "Never mind that. Artemis, what happened?"

Artemis explains to her that some people came and tried to kidnap Heion. The only way he could have kept them from taking her, was by going after them due to her absence. Unfortunately, they injured him in the process.

Minako shook her head sadly and blinks back rueful tears, "I'm so sorry I wasn't here to help you Artemis... but I'll make it up to you. I'll find the twerps who did this and then they'll be sorry they even thought about messing with my family..." she hugged the cat a little tighter, making sure she didn't harm him in any way, "But at least my cat's a hero."

At the same time, the Ancient Family was having their own conversation about what had happened. Kodia was very concerned over his future wife's well being, despite the fact that Chenoa said she'd be fine in time. Then Heion asked if she'd have powers like her mother when she was older, and Kodia, not wanting to talk about that prospect, told her now was not the time to speak of it. Then Kodia realizes Artemis will be all right and tells Minako that he's going to take Chenoa to their room... Minako tells him to take care of her and then leaves with her guardian.

"If you think you're going to Alcatraz now you can forget it... There's no way I'm putting you in any type of mortal danger when you're this weak..."

Artemis smiled slightly, "They've already left... I decided no to go..."

"Why?" Minako asked, confused.

Artemis sighed, "I'm worried about you Mina... We need to talk..."

'Perhaps we do old friend... Perhaps we do...' Minako thought sadly.

Heion goes in front of Chenoa and Kodia, but as Chenoa goes to take her first step, the pain in her side intensifies and she nearly passes out again. Kodia saw this and ended up picking Chenoa up and carrying her to the room with Heion leading the way. Kodia sets Chenoa down on the bed and begins to check her wound while Heion searches for a communicator.

Meanwhile, Usagi and Mamoru who were walking around searching for the Love Senshi and attending to some other points of business, had heard Minako cry out earlier and immediately went to where they heard the cry. The royal couple ran into Minako with Artemis and Usagi immediately asked if everything was all right when she saw Artemis, who still looked a bit fatigued.

"We'll talk about it LATER," Minako hissed angrily, too quietly for Usagi or Mamoru to hear. Then she asked if she might go, wanting to make Artemis rest for awhile longer. The queen waved her away, still a little shocked by Minako's words. Minako noticed how drawn she looked and told the king that he really ought to make her rest, his wife looked terrible. The king told her, he was trying but she wasn't listening. Minako had nothing to say to that and continued on...

Minako would not realize how correct her words were. A few moments after she leaves, her head begins to ache and she feels sick. Then she begins to feel the room spin and her vision blurs... In a few more seconds, the queen collapses to the floor in a dead faint.

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Pages Updated On: 14-Aug-2008 - 10:29:32
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