Sailor Moon: Sailor Cosmos

Chapter 23: Disappearance Part 2

Dia watched as the others disappeared into the night. It was a nice and quiet night. It was warm but a bit humid too. The only sound was of leaves scraping across the concrete ground. She showed some discomfort in her expression as she walked home with her hands holding the sides of her arms. Before she knew it, she was standing at the gate of her home staring upward at the moon. She gazed so intently at the bright sphere as though she was looking for an answer. She put her head back down and took a breathe out. Dia opened the gate and was welcomed in by Hikaru's barks. She closed the door of her house, telling her parents of her arrival, "I'm home."

"Dia!" Her mother hugged tightly. "I was so worried. You came home so late." Dia was grateful for the warm welcome and how her mother was so caring about her, but she wasn't feeling it at the moment.

"It's nothing really," Dia said trying to avoid the conversation.

"Is it about the recent attacks? Your father and I watched the news coverage on it... Oh, your father fell asleep already by the way. It's so terrible. Even after all your effort all those years ago, they've come back."

Dia pulled away from her mother, "I'm doing my best with everyone, so you shouldn't worry about it. It's fine--I'm fine. It's not something you should be involved with."

"But, how can I not? My own daughter is one of them--Sailor Sun," she chuckled a little after that trying to make light of the situation. "You and your friends are really popular. It's almost all what people talk about now. It's kind of exciting for me! I almost can't control myself around my friends!" She smiled.

"Please stop..." Dia felt uncomfortable with what her mother was saying. This surprised her mother, she lowered her head in embarrassment. How can she talk like that about something so serious and life-threatening to the entire planet? Dia put her hands to her face, holding her head.

"Dia sweetie, are you okay?" Her mother stepped closer. Dia was shaking in pain. Her knees began to bend as the pain was getting to the point where she couldn't stand up properly. "Dia!"

Dia moaned in agony as flashes of the past appeared. Thirty years ago when she battled the Ergosphere. Images of the darkness that once tortured her soul. Images of Rikuto and of the spirit with the red flame over its head and more of something unrecognizable. "Argh...aahh....ughaah~"

"Dia!" Her mother's voice snapped her out of it. Dia was panting heavily. Then she stood with a confused and worried look. "Dia..." Her mother reached out her hand to touch Dia who avoided it.

"Sorry about that...I'm going bed now."

"You aren't going to eat?" Her mother said, stopping Dia from walking away.

"No, I'll eat it for breakfast tomorrow morning, so you can put in the fridge for me." Dia started up the staircase.

"Dia, wait," her mother stopped her once again. "I'm sorry for saying all that. That was rude of me. I'm...I'm just...," tears began to form in the corners of her eyes. She held them back. "...I'm just so happy your back and still my Dia, so young, just like the day you left us. I don't want to see you like this...so scared and alone. Even...even if I can't understand what's happening, I just want to tell you that we are here for you. Your father and I both love you and don't want to see you hurt." She lowered her head, squeezing a fist. "Please, please just open up to me about it. About it all! Even if it's just a little...because not knowing anything scares me the most. Like with what just happened to you. You were hurting and I couldn't help you. Don't say I shouldn't worry, because I will always and don't disappear like that again because..." She lifted her head to Dia as tears flung out from her eyes. "...I don't think my heart will be able to take something like that again!"