-->PLEASE READ THIS<--
This story is a SERIES. That means there 
are more chapters that come before this one.
You can start with these chapters, but I will
promise you will be confused.
The series in order goes as follows;
Don't Let Me Go: Broken Promises
Don't Let Me Go: Insanity
Don't Let Me Go: Roses
Don't Let Me Go: Apparition
Don't Let Me Go: Debauchery
Don't Let Me Go: Analogous
Don't Let Me Go: Barrage
Next week (maybe this week if
I'm lucky) Chapter 1 of 
Don't Let Me Go: Crystallization
will be out ^^
I hope this doesn't make everyone
go screaming and not read my fic ::sniff::
I promise the first couple of Main titles
are not that long ^^

___________________________________
Victorious. 

What does that word mean anymore? We came 
back, hoping to feel the sun warm our faces 
and the wind against our skin. But instead 
it was not to be.

The world is now a bleak and dark space that 
once held the laughter of children and the 
sound of people fulfilling their dreams.

Is it repairable? Or did we save the universe 
at the cost of our home planet?

                                  -Makoto.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Don't Let Me Go: Barrage
Chapter: 4
By: Bethany & Patch 
Rated: PG
Editor: Meara
Comments? Suggestions?
PLEASE send them to us
at TLUsak0@aol.com and
Patchkhan1@hotmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~


	Destruction. It was everywhere.

	Desolation. It affected everyone.

	This was the city of Tokyo. It's beautiful 
buildings, parks and homes destroyed, it's people 
filled with depression and abject despair.

	The sirens of ambulances filled the air 
daily, the hospitals overflowing with the injured, 
the morgues filled with the dead.

	People wandered aimlessly, clutching themselves 
or holding onto a surviving loved one, disbelief in 
their eyes. They could not believe this 
possible. Their lives utterly ruined, so difficult 
to rebuild. It was with a sinking realization that 
the knowledge was imbedded in minds of the citizens
everywhere; life would never be the same...again... 
whether it be for better or worse.

	A woman walking with a young child of about 
two years collapsed suddenly next to a looted store, 
pieces of its glass lying everywhere on the sidewalk. 
She ignored the pain that shot through her body from 
the sharp shards. But she did cry out, not from the 
physical pain but from the anguish deep within her. 
The pain of being betrayed.

	"Where were they?" she screamed, over the cries 
of her child. "Where were they when we so desperately 
needed their help?"

~~~~~~~

	"Kami, how could we have let this happen?" Luna 
asked, remorse lacing her voice. 

	"There was nothing we *could* do Luna, it was... 
unavoidable. Three cats against those vile youmas, we 
would have been destroyed," Artemis replied.  

	"But we would have fought bravely and our deaths 
wouldn't have been in vain!" Luna cried, the image of 
Kenji still stuck in her mind.

	"And who would have told Usagi-chan what had 
happened? She and the others would have had to come 
back to a city they could no longer recognize, there 
would have been no answers, only death. We need to be 
here for all the Senshi when they come back, hopefully 
victorious. What has happened will be a great blow to 
all of them."

	"Oh Artemis... I hope they come back with good 
news, I really hope they do."

	"They will. I have faith in them. Now we have to 
find Shingo and Ikuko.. and Lynn." Artemis felt a 
crushing pain sweep through him. If Lynn, Mika's guardian, 
one of his own kind hadn't survived... no he would 
not think like that. He would not!

	"Artemis, do you hear that?" He turned his head 
to see Luna's ears up and alert. He pricked up his ears 
and at first he didn't hear anything. But then the sound 
of a faint mewling reached his ears. His heartbeat began 
to race as he and Luna ran towards the sound which 
emanated from somewhere near what used to be the kitchen.

	They clawed at the rubble, ignoring the shooting 
pain in their paws and legs.  A furry head emerged and 
they shouted with joy. "Lynn!"

	"Artemis? Luna?" Lynn opened her eyes, squinting 
at them. "Help me, onegai...Shingo..."

	"He must be somewhere close by," Artemis said, 
pawing through the plaster and wood.

	Luna licked Lynn's face tenderly. "It will be 
alright," she said softly. "Everything will be okay. 
You'll be okay." She helped the other cat pull herself 
out of the rubble and then tried to lick clean her body, 
nuzzling her a few times.

	"I found him!" Artemis yelled, running back to the 
two.

	Luna turned to Lynn and told her to stay where she 
was as she and Artemis scampered back to Usagi's brother. 
He lay unconscious against part of a wall, his head 
against part of a wall, his chin on his chest. His 
hair was matted to his head and his face held so many 
bruises it made Luna's heart twist.

	"Oh Kami, please, Artemis, don't tell he too is-"

	"Iie, he isn't. He's alive, just not with us as yet. 
I think he'll come around. His pulse is strong."

	"What about Ikuko-san?" Luna asked worriedly. She 
knew Usagi would not be able to take the blow of losing 
both of her parents. It was too much no matter how 
strong she made herself out to be. 

	"We'll find her too."

	"Kenji... Kenji... Kenji..."

	The three cats whipped their head around at 
the sound of the whisper. They saw Ikuko walk aimlessly 
towards them, staggering and stumbling. They knew she 
would see her husband first, before she saw them. 
"Ikuko-san, over here!" Luna yelled, hoping to gain 
her attention first. But it was too late. Ikuko had 
seen them but she tripped over something first and 
crashed to the floor... right next to her dead husband. 

	A shrill scream pierced the air and they 
watched helplessly Ikuko shake her head back and forth.

	"Iie... Iie!! He's not dead! He can't be dead! 
Kenji, please don't leave me!!" she leaned over and 
held his face with her hands.  "Kami, no! He can't 
be dead!" she sobbed hoarsely, the realization 
hitting her. She had lost her love of so many years... 
he was gone... gone from her...

	She slowly, painstakingly, closed Kenji's open 
eyes. Shingo and Usagi, they were all she had left. 
She lifted her head to see her son up against a wall 
and panicked, shooting to her feet and running to him. 

	"He's alive," Artemis said quietly.

	Ikuko gathered him to her, hugging him close. 
"Usagi has to come back," she whispered. "She just 
has to."

~~~~~~~~~~

	"Motoki, I'm so scared. I've never been so 
scared in my entire life. I don't think I was this 
scared when Chronos had us locked up." 

	"It's going to be okay Reika, I have a feeling 
this'll be all over soon."

	"In a good or bad way?" Reika asked sarcastically.

	The two were making their way to the Crown 
Parlor so that they could get to Central Command 
for an update on... anything.  Youmas were running 
unfettered and unrestrained in this the city so that 
had to use the utmost caution in reaching their 
destination. They had come too close one too many times.

	"I think the Senshi will come back victorious 
and they'll save us," Motoki said confidently.  

	"Do you really have that much faith in them?" 
Reika asked , looking into her fianc饧s face.

	"I do. I've known them for so long, and not once 
have they let me - or this planet -  down. So many times, 
the world has nearly come to an end, yet they always came 
through... every time.  Nothing will stop them now." 

	They stopped walking when they found themselves 
in front of the Crown Parlor. Surprisingly everything 
seemed to be intact.  "Masaka... not even the windows 
are broken. How is that possible?" Motoki asked, 
rubbing the back of his head.

	"Who cares? Be grateful that what we have is 
still standing.  We should go inside, quickly," Reika 
said, pulling on Motoki's arm.  "I still think there's 
something very strange about-"

	An odd sound, close to that of a screech nearby 
interrupted him and he swiveled around to see a 
grotesque shadow nearby.

	"Motoki, come on," she said urgently, "we 
have to go inside."

	"Hai, let's go!" He ran to the front door 
and pulled on the doors, growling in frustration 
when he found they were locked.  The screeching 
noise came closer and he pulled harder. "The back 
door!" he suddenly exclaimed and pulled Reika along 
with him to the back of the Parlor. The door was 
made of wood and he easily opened it down with his 
shoulder and pulled Reika inside. Reika closed the 
door as Motoki pushed a large storage cabinet against 
it. As soon as he had done so, he grabbed Reika to him 
and held onto her tightly.  She was shaking slightly 
at their close call and clutched at him also.  She 
felt his lips on her hair and took deep breaths, 
relaxing slightly.

	"We're safe," he whispered. "No more hiding, 
we're safe... finally."

	"For how long?" Reika whispered in response. Her 
answer was Motoki tightening his hold on her.

	Outside, a person who had seen the couple rushed 
to the Parlor, hoping to seek some refuge also. He ran 
to the front doors and banged on the glass doors. 
Suddenly he was thrown far back as the Crown Parlor 
exploded in a fury of glass and wood.

	Flames licked at the smoky night air and pieces 
of rubble fell from the sky after having been blown up.  

	The man raised his head from the grass, his head 
bleeding as he looked at the building in front of him 
in shock. The Crown Parlor... a long time hangout for 
all the youth of Tokyo... had been destroyed in an 
instant.

	Somewhere in the now charred Juuban Park, a 
sparkle of light glowed through the endless darkness 
of the night. It became bigger and brighter until 
those who happened to be in the area at the moment 
dropped their mouths open in wonder and amazement.

	Who was it? What was it? Could they pray that 
whoever or whatever it was would save them from their 
desolation and misery?

	A portal opened and ten figures stepped out, 
their figures shadowed by the blinding light behind 
them. And then the light dimmed until it disappeared 
and a few of the citizens blinked their eyes hoping 
for some kind of miracle.

	Some imagined that the figures were mythical 
persons from another galaxy come to be their saviors 
in this time of need.  Others hoped that the figures 
were strong, reliable soldiers from another country, 
here with aid and supplies. 

	But then a few of the figures dropped to the 
ground on their knees and in the light from the moon, 
the figures were revealed.

	"Sailor Senshi," one of the watchers whispered.

	"Battered and torn," whispered another.

	"What good will they be to us?" said another, 
the voice louder than the other two.  

	The Senshi heard neither of the conversations 
going on around them, nor were they aware that people 
were watching them. They had come back home... 
victorious... and that was all that mattered in those 
few precious seconds.

	"Sweet, sweet Earth," Sailor Jupiter whispered, 
feeling the grass underneath her hands.

	"We're finally home," Sailor Venus said quietly, 
still in shock of having survived one of the greatest 
battles in her life. 

	Suddenly Sailor Moon gasped and everyone looked 
at her.

	"Minna, our troubles are no where near over..." 
her eyes were focused on something in front of them and 
everyone turned to see what had elicited the gasp from 
her.

	And then Tuxedo Kamen inhaled his breath sharply, 
breaking the stunned silence. "My Earth..." he breathed. 

	Trees that had once been great in their numbers 
and colors now stood black and charred. A playground 
that had once held swings and seesaws now lay in a 
complete mess, everything broken.

	It was then that everyone looked at the 'big 
picture.' It was then that everyone noticed the smoke 
that curled upwards from places in the distance. It 
was then that everyone smelled the rancid air around 
them. It was then that they noticed the destruction 
of their city.

	"What the hell happened here?" Tuxedo Kamen 
asked to no one in particular, his eyes narrowing 
dangerously. 

	"W-we should get to Central Command, I'm sure 
someone will be there," Ami said, her eyes wide in 
disbelief. What had happened while they were gone?

	"Sou," everyone said and they started walking, 
still oblivious to the people hiding in bushes.

	"Even they can't help us," someone whispered.

	"They look too weak," someone else said.

	"They didn't even have any clue to what was 
going on in their city," another voiced.

	And then someone else spoke, much louder and 
clearer than the rest. "They betrayed us," he said 
menacingly. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~
	
	"Kami, what happened here?" Usagi asked for 
the tenth time, her hand covering her mouth, not 
only to stop her cries, but also that she wouldn't 
have to take in the stench of death and decay.

	They were still in Senshi form and by now they 
had noticed the looks of astonishment from those who 
were still brave enough to be out at such a time in 
the night.

	"We'll get to the bottom of this Sailor Moon," 
Mika said reassuringly, but even her voice held some 
doubt.

	Buildings stood with broken windows, some 
blackened by fire.

	"This is Chronos' doing, I just know it," 
Setsuna said with disgust.

	"But he can't do anything now, he's dead, gone 
forever," Haruka added, pulling Michiru closer to her. 
"He isn't in control anymore."

	"Oh no," Rei groaned, shaking her head. "Oh Kami 
no, minna look," she said pointing to one of the 
buildings. It was the Crown Parlor.

	"No!" Usagi screamed and then ran ahead of the 
group, despite the pain it caused her. "No," she cried 
again, but before she could actually go into it, strong 
arms encircled her waist and pulled her back against 
her beloved.

	"Don't Usako," Mamoru said in her ear, "it could 
be dangerous."

	"No! There might be people in there! Luna and 
Artemis could be in there! They could be hurt! Let me 
go!" she struggled against his arms, tears falling down 
her face.

	"Usako..."

	"There are two life forms in there," Ami said, 
doing a scan. "They're alive but barely."

	"We have to go in!" Usagi cried and broke free 
from Mamoru. She ran in, the others right behind her.

	"Be careful minna! This place looks like it's 
going to collapse," Rei said, surveying the inside.

	"According to the data, the two bodies are over 
there, near the back, under that plaster," Ami said, 
pointing. Usagi quickly ran over, avoiding all the 
rubble and beginning pulling away the plaster. She 
stopped when she saw a face. 

	"Motoki-san," she whispered.

	Mamoru pulled away more of the plaster and found 
Reika. "They were probably in this building when it 
blew up," Makoto said. "It's a wonder they survived."

	"I-I can save them," Usagi said, straightening. 
"I can use the Crystal and save them."

	"No! You're too weak," Mamoru answered, stopping 
her. The others voiced their agreement.

	"I have to, they need help and the hospital's too 
far. We have to do something now, and the Crystal's the 
only way," her face held a determined look and everyone 
knew better than to argue.

	"Let me help then," Mamoru said. 

	Usagi gave him a grateful smile and then turned to
face the two.  She closed her eyes and concentrated, bringing 
the Crystal out. Mamoru kneeled behind her, holding her, 
his eyes closed also and together, with their crystals 
combined they began to heal Motoki and Reika.  

	It was a tense moment and the Senshi held their 
breaths until they saw both Motoki and Reika's eyes open 
slightly. Ami scanned them quickly and gave a small 
exclamation of joy.

	"They'll be okay! They'll be alright!"

	"Mamoru? Usagi?" Motoki asked.

	"Hai, it's us," Mamoru replied, helping his friend 
up as Usagi and Makoto did the same with Reika.

	"You guys are okay?" Reika asked.

	"A little bruised up, but we're alive and here!" 
Minako grinned.  But then her smile faded. "What 
happened to the city?"

	Tears formed in Reika's eyes at the question. 
"So much," she whispered brokenly.

	"Too much," Motoki added, hugging his fianc饮

	"We're prepared to hear it all," Usagi said, 
taking an authoritative stance. "And then we're ready 
to fix it."

-End Chapter 4.
_______________
Patch AN's:
Slowly But Surely, that is our motto! We're cranking 
out these chapters one at a time and we're getting 
there, to the end! *Gasp!* Never thought we could do 
it, huh? We can and we will! Thankies go out to all 
those who write to us, coughs and colds to all those 
who don't. BWAHAHAHA!! Patch:-)(-:

Hi hi! I don't have much to say (there's a first ^~)
As always HUGE thanks to our editor, Meara - she rules!!
and everyone who emails us! **hugs** 
Next week starts Don't Let Me Go: Crystallization -
Please, please, plase email us!! ^_^

<3 Bethany and by default ^~ Patch 
Oh! New web page! Palla Palla's Play House - dedicated
to the Amazoness Quartet ^_^
http://www.geocities.com/Palla_Palla_Play_House
or you can also come visit my other web page -
Moon Bunny's Closet
http://anime.at/bethsere