[mirage] seen by Ducky mirage (mi räzh') n. an optical illusion, caused by the refraction of light, in which a distant object appears nearby She was warm. Eyes were closed, but she could still feel the dappled rays of sunlight dancing over her reclining form, the speckled beams filtered through the trees. The wind played with her hair, bringing a smell of calm serenity. It made her smile. A bird called. The sound was oddly familiar. She wanted to open her eyes, to see what bird it was. She could not. Her eyes refused to open. The bird called again. It sounded like a cry. She struggled to open her eyes, her face tensing as confusion set in. She wanted her fingers to force her eyelids open, but even that she couldn’t do. Her body would not move. Panicked, she opened her mouth to cry for help. And she realized it hadn’t been a bird calling. It was the sound of her own screaming. [act 08: deception // begin] The sound reverberated through Mamoru’s mind, blurring his vision as it repeated, echoed, amplified to the point where he could feel it ripping him apart. Usagi Somewhere in his mind he recognized the others calling for him as his body crashed to the ground. But he could only hear her scream. Haruka winced against the sound, but took advantage of its effect and dispatched with cold precision nearly half of the gathered daemons. The sound and the sight of the human’s sword glinting with their brethren’s blood gave the daemon’s pause and Haruka time. She risked a glance back to where the sound was originating from. Paled at the sight. Usagi, her mouth open in an endless scream, her eyes open, mindless. (This isn’t my wish) (I didn’t wish to die) |frantic| (This isn’t how it was supposed to be) |panicked| (I thought ...) |gasping| (I thought I could do this on my own) |choking| (I was wrong.) |defeated| (I don’t know what to do...) (tasukete) (tasukete)a(tasukete)kete)(ta(tas(tasukete)(tasukete)asukete)su(ta ukete)kete)(tasukete)suke(tasukete)k(tasukete) su(tasukete(tasuket sukete)(tasukete)kete)k(tasukete)(t(tasukete)t(tasukete)a(tasukete s(suk(tasukete) asuk(tasuke a(tasukete)ta(tasukete)ket tasukete)s(tasukete) (tasu |screaming| sukete)ke(tasukete)t(tasu (tasukete)sukete)e(tasukete (tasukete)tasukete(tasuket tasukete)(tasukete)a(tasukete)kete)su(tasukete)(tasukete)asuk(ta(t ta(tasukete)su (tasukete)suke(tasukete)ke (tasu(tasukete)ukete)ete te)te)te)(t(tasukete)t(sukete)(tasukete)kete)tasukete)e(tasukete)u She frowned. Michiru’s expression contradicted the scene, ensconced in the lazy haze of a bubbling Jacuzzi and her lover’s arms. The change did not go unnoticed. Haruka brushed her lips lightly behind a now pink ear, smiling at the gasped reaction. ‘Something wrong?’ It was hard to think with Haruka’s breath warm in her ear and lips planting kisses along her neck. It was easy to fall into the haze surrounding them both in warmth and utter peace. tasukete Michiru straightened at the sound. ‘Did you hear that?’ Emerald met her gaze, mystified by the question. ‘No.’ Ocean blue looked away, disconcerted. A touch at her cheek brought her eyes up to Haruka’s concerned regard. ‘Maybe we should go back inside. We have been in here for a while.’ Michiru nodded absent-mindedly, listening. ‘What happened?!’ ‘We have to get out of here, now.’ He could hear what was happening. ‘We have to carry him. Help me pick him up.’ Felt what was happening. ‘Go!’ He was losing her. (It’s my fault) |Hotaru stabbed from behind| (My fault that they’re in pain) |Rei screaming| (And now I can’t help them) |Ami falling| but you can help them (How? I can’t fix this) |Blood spurting from Minako’s arm| (I tried and look what happened!) |Haruka’s head whipping back| (Look at what’s happening) (It’s my fault this is happening) but there is something something you haven’t tried something you have something you can use |something i want| |the ginzuishou| (I don’t have anything) (If I did I would have used it already!) |Bone snapping out of Makoto’s leg| (I can’t fix this) (I don’t have anything to fix this) yes you do it’s right in your hands |the ginzuishou| bright pure (The ginzuishou?) yes |use it| it will help you (How will it help?) |use it| it will help me ... help you |help me ... help you| use it (It will fix this?) yes |yes| use it (I can really fix this) yes use it (Minna ... I will fix this) (for you) use it (Maboroshi no ginzuishou, lend me your power) |yes| (Oh no) (What have I done?) [act 08: deception // end] Ducky 9 November 2006 – 12 November 2006