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Chapter 18: Breakdown

When Minako got her room, she set Artemis down on the bed and made sure the door was shut. She could barely keep herself from crying just having him looking at her. She subconsciously rubbed the ring on her left hand, as though it were the most natural thing in the world and wasn't at all unnatural. Artemis noticed it immediately and did not have to ask where she went any longer. His face fell as much as a feline's could and he spoke in a soft comforting tone, "Mina... I would have told you it would be painful to return after seeing him again... I wish you had come to me before going..."

"Why? So you could tell the others and then have them forbid me to leave? I would have found a way anyway..." then she looked down at the floor, her back still to him, "Besides... I wasn't really planning on returning,"

Artemis was shocked to hear that one, "Well... then why did you come back?"

Now Minako did start crying, unabashed and unashamed for what had to be the first time in her life. She covered her face with her hands and nearly choked on her sobs for what could have been an instant or an eternity. Finally, she looked back to her cat, with tears still streaming down her face and managed to force out what she had to say, "He made me come back... He didn't want his enemy to find out I was there... He already found out Yahara was there when I came..."

Artemis' eyes widened as if he was beginning to understand, but Minako continued, "Yahara... Yahara's infected with the virus... He... He's..." then Minako fell to her knees and collapsed into full blown hysteria, "Oh goddess... He's dying! Oh my goddess..."

Artemis hops off the bed and moves over to try and help his distraught friend... he explains to her that Yahara acted in good intentions and that she should be more optimistic about what'll happen to him. Yahara's strong and he will survive in Artemis' opinion.

Minako is greatly comforted by his words and hugs him, wondering what she did to deserve a friend like him... Especially after abandoning him like she did. He tells her not to think about it, for all she did was follow her heart. Then he said that they should probably go and check on Chenoa, who is probably in the Med Ward at this point. Minako offers him a ride on her shoulder, which he gladly takes, and then they head off for the Med Ward...

Minako nods in agreement at Artemis' comment on Chenoa, "Usagi didn't look too well either... I told Mamoru he really should get her to bed..."

Artemis nodded, "She does have a lot to do with the wedding coming up... And now this new threat..."

Minako narrowed her eyes at that and growled slightly, "If I ever get my hands on the jerk that hurt you..."

The two were silent for a time after that and Minako let her thoughts drift off randomly, still rubbing the engagement ring on her left hand absently. She knew Artemis was right and the two still had some things to talk about. She knew for a fact that despite Artemis' comforting and reason, she was still not emotionally sound. She knew Yahara was strong in spirit, but it had killed so many already...

Minako quickly forced that train of thought down and decided just to concentrate on matters at hand. There was no reason fighting a battle that cannot be fought.

Meanwhile, Samantha has arrived on the moon and is looking around the palace for her mother or someone else to tell her what's going on. She soon runs into Minako and Artemis, happy to see a friendly face or two, "Hey! Minako! Artemis! Where is everyone?"

Minako and Artemis' jaws drop at exactly the same moment. Minako just stares at the girl for a few minutes and then rushes forward and hugs the young girl tightly, "You're all right! Goddess, you have no idea how worried we all were when you didn't come back..."

"Well trust me, it wasn't my idea..." Samantha muttered as Minako released her from the tight hug.

Artemis muttered, "Oh believe me... We know..." Minako gave Artemis a comforting scratch behind the ears and smiled softly.

"Our new enemies have been here already... they tried to kidnap Heion,"

"Who?"

Minako and Artemis sweat dropped and Minako held up a hand to her temple, "Boy do we ever have some catching up to do,"

Suddenly, Samantha's eyes went wide and she yanked Minako's left hand from her forehead, nearly yanking it off, "Apparently... You got ENGAGED while I was gone?! I never thought I'd see the day..."

Minako face faulted and pulled her arm back rather forcibly, "Yeah well... That's another thing we need to talk about later..." Artemis rubbed his head against Minako's neck comfortingly and she smiled at him warmly.

Then Minako looked back to Samantha, "Well I was just about to go visit Chenoa in the Med Ward... She took a nasty blast from those things... Whatever they were. You had better come with me since you two were not formally introduced. Then we had better contact your mother... She and the others are out looking for you. With the exception of Makoto who has a concussion... I don't know where Motoki is and Usagi and Mamoru are SUPPOSED to be in bed, but how much do you want to bet they're still working?" then Minako and Samantha started to walk towards the Med Ward.

"By the way, where's Sarah?" Minako asked, feeling guilty she hadn't realized the other girl's absence until now.

Samantha looked at her in surprise, "Then she isn't here?"

Minako's eyes widened at her words and she felt her face pale again, "You don't know where she is?"

"She escaped before me... I just assumed she came here..." Samantha breathed.

Artemis groaned, "Beautiful... Now we have another senshi MIA..."

Minako, who wasn't really paying attention where she was going with the news of Sarah's disappearance, turned too early, accidentally opening the wrong door. Minako was about to close it and forget about it, when she made contact with a grizzly sight and let out a high shriek.

Lying on the floor was the maid who had been acting as Heion's babysitter. She was a grayish white and her eyes were opened and rolled up in the back of her head. But Minako didn't see it quite as that...

No matter what Minako told herself, all she could see was Yahara lying dead on the floor.

"Oh my goddess..." Minako said shakily. She backed up and tripped over her own feet, causing Artemis to fall off of her shoulder. She pressed her back against the wall and started shaking violently. She shook her head slowly and felt her head start spinning, "It can't be true... no..."

Artemis looked at her, looking extremely worried and said, "Mina, are you all right?" Minako did not answer and just kept staring at the corpse on the floor, "Mina, answer me... Mina!!"

Minako still didn't answer and just continued staring at the corpse on the floor. Samantha was looking back from the dead body to Minako in bewilderment, her mouth hanging slightly open. Artemis was still staring at Minako intently, his eyes begging for a response. Hotaru had also shown up and was wondering just what Minako was so upset about... Yes it was grizzly, but there was no reason why the blonde should be quite this upset over it.

Minako started mumbling under her breath, her words coming quickly and her tone that of an insane person. She tried to shut her eyes but they remained open, transfixed on the body on the floor, "Yahara. He isn't here. He isn't here. He's still in his dimension. That's not him. It can't be. It just can't be. But he's lying in front of me. Is it an omen? It has to be. That's the only explanation. Either that or I'm crazy. But I've always been crazy. I'm not that crazy... Am I that crazy? Then... then he... he really is..." Minako started hyperventilating. Then she shook her head violently and ran off... No one followed...

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