Stars in a New Sky

Chapter 17: Presence

Masako Mori awoke terrified and drenched in sweat. The cheerful morning sunlight did nothing to dispel the fear clawing in her chest. Once again, her dreams had turned into nightmares, filled with blood, death, and hatred. People she vaguely recognized died over and over at her hands. She wasn't sure what frightened her more. The fact that she dreamt of murder or that part of her felt a twisted satisfaction with every life she took.

Squeezing her eyes shut, she buried her face in the pillow. For the past week, she'd felt someone...or something watching her. It was like an oppressive shadow peering over her shoulder. The weight of its presence was starting to wear on her. The evidence was clear as day when she looked in the mirror. She watched with fascinated horror as the circles under her eyes deepened after her restless nights. It was practically impossible to focus at school. The shadowy presence would grow stronger each time she saw Mamoru Chiba. 

The intensity of her feelings for him terrified her. She'd liked him from the moment she'd seen him. Masako could even admit to herself that she was a bit jealous when she'd seen him together with that girl. Now what began as a silly girlish crush had turned into a twisted obsession. The mild jealousy she'd felt was nothing in comparison to the incredible rage that swelled within her. It was all she could do to keep herself from screaming every time she saw Mamoru with the blonde. 

Today was no exception.

The walk to school was a miserable trek. She slouched as if she could physically feel the weight of the evil that had begun to consume her mind. It is Evil. She realized as she came to a stop in front of her school. There was no doubt about it. There was nothing pure or good about the feelings elicited when she saw the couple. Raising her eyes from the pavement, she saw them together again. The blonde chattering away, an enormous smile on her face. Worse, Mamoru was smiling back. Masako had never seen him smile like that....so carefree...so happy.

That strange feral part of her yearned to reach out and take that happiness for herself. Why can't he look at me that way? Masako felt her stomach churn with fear. Those thoughts were not her own. Was the presence able to speak now? The possibility chilled her to the bone.

"Hey Masako!"

Masako jumped at the sound of Takeshi's voice. He slid his arm around her shoulders and guided her past the couple and into the school grounds. "How are you feeling? You look a little tired."

She glared at him and shrugged his arm off. "I'm fine. Leave me alone!" She stomped off, fury pumping in her veins. The farther she got from Mamoru, the intensity of her anger faded. Why had she been so rude to Takeshi? She came to a stop at her homeroom. Leaning against the wall beside the door, she tried to understand why she'd snapped at him. She'd never had a real problem with Takeshi. She'd always ignored his flirtations. In fact, if you overlooked his outrageous behavior, he wasn't such a bad guy.

"What's wrong with me?" She whispered to herself.

Takeshi watched Masako storm off with a sinking heart. Over the last week, he watched as Masako's cheerful demeanor slowly eroded away. She'd grown pale and thin, like an abandoned ragdoll. She had stopped focusing in class and seemed utterly disconnected from her peers. Only around Mamoru did she show any interest. Her eyes would glow with an avaricious light. It was an expression he recognized. Princess Beryl had looked upon Prince Endymion the same way. Especially after Metalia had poisoned her mind. 

Fate was a cruel mistress.

He was aware Masako had feelings for Mamoru from the first day he enrolled. It was clear to everyone, except for Mamoru himself. He was oblivious to all else around him and now that he'd found his princess once more, everyone else would cease to matter. Takeshi watched Mamoru and Usagi. They looked so happy together...completely unaware of the danger that surrounded them. Staying on the sidelines might not be an option anymore. If Metalia is the reason for Masako's radical change in behavior, Mamoru and the Sailor Guardians would need all the help they could get. Once Metalia got a foothold in their plane of existence, it would become more difficult to defeat her.