starlight's destiny | HIMEKO

act twenty four | a descent to the future coming

Have you ever opened your mouth in front of a fan and spoke in some alien language? Or, maybe like a dog, stuck your head out of a window and felt the breeze hit your face? If you have, answer this honestly: how did it feel? Was it therapeutic? Worth the while? 

"I can't even breathe!"

"Hold on tight!" 

Now, let me ask you this question: have you ever jumped into a portal with winds wilder than a hurricane, unsteadier than the worst earthquake, and never-ending like the deepest blackhole?

"I can't even open my eyes!"

"You guys have to stop complaining! It's doing nothing right now--"

"I just choked on air!"

If you haven't, consider yourself the luckiest person in the world. If you have -- ding, ding, ding! You are Sailor Starlight and her friends currently struggling to breathe properly while descending into an unending portal of pink, white, and lots of wind. With both of her hands gripping Tetsue and Tuxedo Mask's hands, Starlight was fortunate her suited friend had a stronger grip because she would have flown away the second they stepped into the portal.

Not one member of the travelling possie expected to be smacked, handled like a toy, and thrown around in the never-ending portal. No one knew how long it would take and none besides the kids knew where they were going and maybe the duration of their trip. 

"It's important we keep holding each other. The current can be violent at any random time." Chibiusa's voice could be heard during a calm gap of wind. 

"Soon, there's gonna be sudden pulses of wind because the portal detects travelers!" The current they travelled in got rougher. "A protective measure to get invaders lost, the portal will try to split travelers up." Everyone managed to look at the small girl who's gaze was aimed forward before a random current of wind whipped them to the side. 

"But we have to hold on to each other tight! There's going to be a sudden push!" And then another forced them to the right. And then came a series of bursts. 

The force the groups conjoined hands faced withered their grip. When another gush of wind hit the group, a deep yell grabbed everyone's focus away from their own fear. Like a chain holding them to a solid foundation broken, Chibisa felt her body float away from Dark Mask, who continued yelling for them. The four--Chibiusa, Tetsue, Starlight, and Tuxedo Mask were sent higher into the portal, but if it wasn't for the brother's quick thinking, they would have been lost. In a snap movement, the handles of their canes locked together, but such aggression teetered the grip on both Tuxedo Mask's hands. 

If it wasn't for these gloves, Tuxedo Mask gritted his teeth as he attempted to fix his grasp on Sailor Starlight's hands. If it wasn't for these gloves, I could hold her. Every fiber, every muscle forced him to work harder, to not let Starlight go. To not lose her again. A soft of tug-and-war motion between the canes forced the group of Sailor Moon, Venus and the advisors, and Dark Mask down the portal while the other four were being sucked up. 

From her left, Starlight felt her grip on Tetsue slip. His nervous hands were slipping from her grip. The boy's nervous breaths heightened her own fear. Even without words, Starlight  didn't have to guess his level of fear. His lips quivered With darting eyes and a quick calculating mind, she slowly slipped her fingers from Tuxedo Mask's hands. 

"What are you doing?" He looked up at the Guardian who's cape was billowing dramatically in the wind. Her fingers, as much as he gripped, continued to slip from his grip. The fabric of their gloves wasn't making it any better. 

"You have to let me go--"

"I'm not going to." Tuxedo Mask gnashed his teeth as he continued to slip, or try to slip, his hand further down his cane, hoping to reach his brother's grasp. By that he would have a stronger grip on everyone else and grab onto Sailor Starlight's body. But the more he pulled himself down, the looser his grasp on Starlight was becoming.