Earth Guardian Prince Endymion

Earth Guardian Prince Endymion

By Senshi of Ruin and Mizu no Senshi

Act Fifty Three Recap:

(Mamoru’s POV)

Sitting up, Mamoru brushed his hair back from his eyes and glanced around him. As he did so, his heartbeat began to quicken. Lying on a bench with just a blanket over him, Mamoru hadn’t at first realised where exactly he was but now, as he took in the one window with bars across it and the solid metal door in front of him he knew all too well.

Okay, I’ll be the first to admit that I messed up big time yesterday. I somehow became separated from the others and wound up in a police cell. To make matters worse I had only half an hour to get to the church.

“Hurry up” the guard griped and Mamoru hurriedly made his decision, deciding to call the only one of them who could get him out of this mess, whilst being discreet about it, and get him to the church on time.

Dialling the number, for a tense few seconds the phone simply rang and rang before his friend finally answered.

Without giving him time to say anything, Mamoru said: “Seiichi, its Mamoru. I need your help.”

I called Seiichi in the hopes that we could get to the church in time, but we were late and this devastated Usagi.

“H-h-how could you leave me standing there?” Usagi cried, even as Rei placed a hand on her shoulder in an effort to calm her.

Usagi shook this contact off and continued, “You left me to face all those people! If you didn’t want to marry me, then why didn’t you say so before?”

“Usagi” Mamoru protested, “I do want to marry you. You have to understand that--”

“I don’t want to hear it! You lied to me! The truth was that you didn’t want to help with the preparations because you don’t want to marry me!”

I love Usagi, I would never do anything to hurt her, but this whole episode had simply shown her what I had known deep down all along. Things had been moving too fast.

“Usagi” Mamoru stood, coming to kneel at her side and cup her chin in a hand as he looked into her eyes, “I love you. I am truly sorry for what happened and, if you’ll let me, I will make things right, but only if you want to and are prepared to wait awhile.”

We talked things through and Usagi now understands this and for that I am glad. I do want to marry her and I will, but only when the time is right. When we are both ready for that commitment and then we can arrange the wedding together. Yesterday had been Usagi’s day. The next time around I want it to be our day.

******

Act Fifty-Four:

Ami shook her head, chewing on her lower lip so hard that she drew blood. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” Taro answered, still forcing himself to keep the burning questions from passing his lips. He had long since learned that Ami was a very private person and would confide in him eventually. She just needed to work things through at her own pace that was all. “You can tell me anything,” he added as encouragement.

“I know” she paused and drew a sharp breath before saying, “I’m pregnant.”

“Pregnant?” Taro repeated, as he struggled to sort his conflicting emotions into some kind of order. His first reaction was one of happiness. After all, he had always dreamt that, someday, he and Ami would have a family of their own. His second wave of emotions was completely different. Taro felt as though he had let her down. Ami was still studying. She was only 22 years old. She would have to throw away everything that she had worked for to raise a child. How would they be able to afford to have a family? He didn’t earn that much and Ami wouldn’t be able to work as well as look after a baby.

Seeing Ami still looking hesitantly at him, Taro knew he had to say something, but what he did not know.

“Taro?” she asked, gently placing her hand on his own, “Are you angry?”

“Angry?”

She nodded and looked away, hiding behind a curtain of hair, “I wanted to tell you as soon as I knew for certain but I didn’t want to take anything away from Usagi and Mamoru’s day. You can understand that, can’t you?”

“I can” Taro took a deep breath, his doubts fast fading away as he stared upon her and smiled, “Ami, this is wonderful news.”

Her tense expression melted in this instant and Ami threw her arms around him, sobbing slightly as she said, “I’m so glad. I’ve always wanted this for us… no matter how difficult it might be.”

Taro nodded. He knew Ami well enough to know that she must have been worrying herself for weeks over what to do and the practicalities of raising a child.

“Don’t worry about anything,” he told her, “We’ll work this out together.”

Ami nodded to signal that she had heard him and pulled back from his embrace, “I haven’t told minna yet” she said quietly, “Mako-chan went to the doctor with me, but no one else. Do you think… do you think that we could keep it to ourselves for a while? Just until we can make some plans?”

“Of course. If that is what you want,” Taro answered her. He, in truth, wanted to tell the others, but if Ami wanted to keep things under wraps for the time being then he would do as she asked. A part of him did like the idea that they could celebrate this news alone for the moment.

Reaching out, he drew her to him again wanting Ami to know that, no matter what, things would work out somehow and that she wasn’t alone.

*******

“That’s great news” Minako exclaimed as she walked down the studio corridor, half reading through the lyrics to her new song as she listened to what Rei was saying. Usagi had called this morning to say that she and Mamoru were back together.

After what happened yesterday, Minako had serious doubts that they would be able to get through that, but it appeared that the couple had emerged stronger than ever.

Still, despite this, Minako had still been feeling a little angry with Motoki and the former Shitennou for ruining the big day and said as much to her friend.

“Usagi said that she’s almost glad” Rei answered to this, “I get the feeling that the wedding was rushed and I don’t think Mamoru was ready for the commitment. This could well be a blessing in disguise”

Minako nodded and then replied ‘maybe’ for Rei’s benefit.

“So” Rei said next, changing the subject completely, “Has he shown up yet?”

Again, Minako felt a hot blush rising in her cheeks as she snapped back, “Who?”

“You know who” Rei answered, “Don’t try to tell me that this is another of your coincidences?”

“I’m at the studio to work” Minako assured her, “I have no interest in whoever else might be here.”

Rei sighed, “Fine, but you really ought to talk to him. If you don’t then you will always wonder what might have been. It’s better to know these things after all.”

“No” Minako replied, feeling that familiar wave of emotional pain that she did whenever she thought of her time as Dark Venus, “Something’s are much better left alone.”

Then, without giving Rei and chance to respond she said again how great it was that Usagi and Mamoru were back together before hanging up.

“Fine, but you really ought to talk to him. If you don’t then you will always wonder what might have been. It’s better to know these things after all.”

Rei had no idea what she was talking about, Minako told herself as she hurried down the corridor, feeling more than a little flustered by her friend’s light teasing and concern. Despite her excuses, Minako knew full well that Rei was right. She had come down to the studio deliberately, but how could she talk to him? He had never given her a second glance before and she was…

“So you’re the Prince? Now that I’ve seen you I can understand the reasoning behind my orders.”

“Venus” Artemis whispered, but she ignored the plushie’s words as she focused, instead, on his charge. Realising a trap, Zoisite made to teleport away. This was something that Venus could not allow. As he made to do this Venus struck. A beam of yellow light shot from her fingertips and struck him in the chest. Zoisite gasped and fell to his knees in very obvious pain.

“You can’t leave” Venus grinned, taking a purposeful step towards him, “Our Queen, Queen Beryl, is dying to meet you.”

Minako bit her lip hard enough to draw blood as she recalled this. They had fought against each other. They had been enemies and she had almost handed him over to Beryl. How would he see her as anything more?

“Minako” Artemis whispered softly from inside her bag where he had remained hidden as she entered the studio.

Even now the past haunts us… if I could make amends…

Lost in these regretful thoughts, Minako started walking a little faster, now just wanting to leave the studio as quickly as possible. Turning a corner, she brushed passed a few people, murmuring some ‘excuse me’s’ but keeping her head down until she heard a painfully familiar voice.

“Minako-san?”

Forcing herself to halt and look up at him, Minako’s heart skipped a few beats and she forced back the lump that was forming in her throat as she forced herself to say:

“Komoro-san. Hello.”

They regarded each other silently for a few moments. Seiichi, as aloof as ever, was leaning back almost casually against the wall whilst Minako stood before him, her heart racing and her pride telling her to simply leave.

“Are you recording today?” she asked at length, not wanting to make conversation, but finding herself unable to do anything else.

“No” Seiichi shook his head, “I haven’t yet finished working in England. I came here to check up on a few things.”

“So you are going back then?” Minako mentally winced as she recognised the note of disappointment in her voice at this and prayed that Seiichi hadn’t picked up on it.

He nodded, “The flight’s booked for next Saturday. Mamoru and Usagi won’t be rearranging the wedding for a while, especially after what happened.”

“It has made them stronger” Minako answered to this, “As a couple I mean.”

“It has” Seiichi agreed, not commenting on the fiasco of the day before and Minako did not want to bring it up again, especially when she recalled how angry she had been with them.

Nervously she shuffled through the song sheets in her hand as she said next: “Do you like it in England?”

Seiichi shrugged, “Things are different there” he allowed.

“But if you didn’t like it you wouldn’t be going back?”

To this he smiled, “True. It is still a little strange to perform in front of a foreign audience, but, yes, I do like it over there.”

“So you’ll be there for a while?”

“Six months.”

Six months?

Fine, but you really ought to talk to him. If you don’t then you will always wonder what might have been.

“Do you ever think about the past life?” she blurted out before she could stop herself.

Seiichi frowned slightly, “Why do you ask?”

“No reason” Minako backtracked hurriedly. She should have known better than to ask him that. Minako did not doubt that he did think of it, as for a long time, it all been all Seiichi had cared for.

“I shouldn’t have said anything,” she added softly.

Seiichi gave her an unreadable look and appeared as though he was going to say something else to this but at that moment his phone started to ring.

“Excuse me, Minako-san,” he said as he took the call, turning away from her slightly as he did so. Minako did not have time to feel indignant or embarrassed over the topic of conversation as, no sooner had Seiichi taken the call, did her own phone begin to ring.

“Minako” Rei said as she answered, not even bothering with the pleasantries, “Something’s happened.”

******

“So you made up with her all right?”

“I did” Mamoru confirmed, “We agreed to postpone the wedding for the time being. We both feel that it would be better to wait awhile.”

Kisho nodded in agreement, “Of course. I don’t think I could take another stag night like your last one.”

“Very funny. Did you manage to get a refund for the honeymoon?”

Kisho shook his head, “What do you think?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. This mess was mostly down to us anyway.”

“True” Mamoru smirked, “I can trust you guys to get me into as much trouble as you get me out of.”

“Naturally” Kisho agreed to this.

For an agonising few minutes she was silent, her eyes still withholding some tears and Mamoru held his breath, his heart hammering loudly in his chest as he awaited her reply.

“I do” Usagi whispered at last, “I do and I am prepared to wait for it.”

The fact that he had come close to losing her, after all that they had been through together… it had terrified Mamoru more than he cared to let on and Kisho seemed to sense this. His friend had made a point of coming to see how things were this morning and they were now on their way to Crown to break the news to Motoki who had also been very anxious to find out if the wedding was back on or not.

Mamoru had told the others this morning, ringing each of them in turn to semi-apologise for yesterday as well as informing them of the change of plan where the wedding was concerned. Now that it had happened and everything was on the road to being all right again, Mamoru felt a little more relaxed and even saw a sort of funny side to the events of yesterday. The others, unfortunately, didn’t share that sentiment.

“Next time I think I’ll stick to a quiet night at home” Mamoru continued, referring to the stag night. To this Kisho shook his head:

“We cannot allow that. It’s far too boring.”

“After last night” Mamoru said as they rounded the corner into the street that Crown was in, “I prefer boring.”

He trailed off after stating this, coming to a complete standstill as he glanced around at the scene before them.

Several people lay on the ground, unconscious, whilst still clutching their possessions limply in their hands. Some were slumped up against the walls of various buildings but most were on the ground. A paramedic team was already at the scene and were trying to wake various people.

This is…

Mamoru dared to glance at his friend, expecting to see the shock mirrored in his friend’s eyes, but this was not the case. It was a look of acceptance and some anger.

He knew…

This was a scene that Mamoru had hoped he would never have to lay eyes on again. A scene from the past that would never be repeated and yet here it was, right before them as impossible as it may seem to him now.

“Youma” he whispered and Kisho nodded.

Mamoru took out his mobile phone at this agreement, “We should call the others.”

******

“Youma?” Taro repeated, the disbelief clear in his voice, “You’re sure about this?”

“Yes” Mamoru answered.

It had taken almost half an hour for them all to be gathered in Crown, in their old meeting room, and this half an hour had been especially tense for Mamoru. He hadn’t wanted to tell them that it appeared as though they had a new enemy to fight. He didn’t want to tell them that, once again, their lives were to be put on hold, but, as the leader, it was his duty to do so, despite him not relishing the prospect.

They were all sitting around the table, all looking to him to lead, including the former Dark Senshi. Mamoru had to tell Usagi of these latest developments, how could he not? When she heard she insisted that he tell Ami-tachi, too. Now they were all here but the thin line that separated the two sets of guardians was still clear to see, even now.

Mamoru sat at the head of the table, Usagi seated to his left and Kisho directly opposite. To the right of Usagi sat Makoto, Rei, Minako and then Ami, with Taro beside her and then Masaki and Seiichi. Kisho, Masaki and Seiichi appeared distinctly uncomfortable with the girls’ presence, although the latter two attempted to disguise their emotions somewhat.

“But that’s impossible” Taro continued, “The Dark Kingdom was destroyed.”

“I know” Mamoru shook his head, feeling more than a little helpless. There had been no clues apart from the obvious that energy had been stolen. They were completely in the dark and Mamoru didn’t like that one bit.

“It could be a renegade?” Masaki suggested quietly, “Perhaps one that escaped before the Dark Kingdom was destroyed?” the youngest of the former Tennou was particularly on edge regarding these latest developments owing to the time he spent brainwashed against the others in the Dark Kingdom.

“How would it have survived?” Seiichi pointed out, “Youma not only collect energy but they live on it as well. There haven’t been any attacks on civilians in the past four years.”

“We can check that, right, Ami?” Minako answered, looking to her friend.

Ami nodded, “All the local newspapers should be online at the Tokyo library. We can run a search on the system’s computer. It shouldn’t take more than half a day.”

“If there had been any attacks before now then we would have known about it” Kisho pointed out, a little coldly.

“Not necessarily” Taro shot back, “Unless there have been more that you’re not telling us about.”

Kisho appeared about to retaliate, but a quiet ‘Don’t’ from Mamoru and he fell silent. Mamoru had to admit he was a little angry with Kisho for keeping this to himself but could appreciate the gesture behind it, even if the others couldn’t.

“This is the second attack that we know of” Mamoru said in an effort to keep the peace, despite the obvious hostility in the air, “It would be a good idea to check to make sure that there haven’t been others though.”

“And if they’re concentrated in one area” Masaki added to this, “That would help us narrow down where the possible culprit might be located.”

The girls, encouraged by this, nodded and Makoto replied, “We can get a map of the city and pinpoint any possible hiding places.”

“We, more importantly, need to establish who is behind this” Kisho pointed out, “We cannot fight an enemy blind.”

“We don’t have much choice at the moment” Taro answered, “We have to wait for the next Youma attack.”

Kisho shook his head, “If we play the waiting game then it will be to the enemy’s advantage.”

“And where do you propose we look?” Taro sniped back, obviously still annoyed at Kisho’s retort to Ami of before.

“Youma cannot keep themselves hidden for long. We start here, at the scene of the latest attack, and search the city. It is bound to show itself sooner or later.”

“That won’t work. You’ll only waste your own energy”

“I wouldn’t transform until I found it, baka.”

“Why you--”

“Kisho, Taro” Mamoru cut in whilst silently despairing. He felt Usagi place a reassuring hand on his arm and he smiled at this gesture of comfort before continuing:

“This is getting us nowhere. We cannot fight an unseen enemy. We will wait for them to make the next move. At the moment they only seem interested in gathering energy.”

“That will change” Kisho warned, “You know that as well as I do.”

“I also know that we don’t want to alert them to our existence until we have to.”

“I don’t like it” Kisho admitted, “But I will respect your decision for now.”

“We’ll help too” Minako spoke up. The leader of the former Senshi had been more or less silent up until now, but now spoke with determination and Mamoru had a feeling that he knew what was coming:

“We cannot transform, but we can still help you fight, and protect Usagi.”

“You’d only get in the way” Masaki commented, a little coldly, “You are just civilians now.”

“I’m not” Usagi answered this, placing one hand subconsciously on the locket around her neck as she did so, “I can fight.”

“No” Mamoru found himself saying. If anything happened to her… “Usagi, it is too dangerous.”

“So far it’s just a couple of Youma!” Minako snapped hotly.

“We don’t know who is behind this” Seiichi replied to this, “When we fight we do not want to have to worry about your safety, too.”

Minako took this completely the wrong way, but Mamoru got the feeling that there was more behind Seiichi’s words than he was willing to voice out loud.

Leaping to her feet and slamming her fists down on the table in frustration, Minako was about to say something in reply when Rei also stood. Placing a hand on her shoulder and whispering something inaudible, the idol hesitated for a few seconds before turning on her heel and exiting the room. Makoto and Rei were not far behind her. Only Ami and Usagi lingered.

Standing up, Taro drew Ami aside and Mamoru did the same with Usagi.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly.

Usagi nodded, “I know. Can we talk on the way home?”

Mamoru was in agreement to this and then turned back to the rest of them. He was furious that things had gotten so out of hand and that the girls had left very much upset. Of course, Mamoru had not been as naïve to think that they would all get along just like that, but he had hoped that some understanding could be reached at least.

Ami and Taro were first to leave, as Ami wasn’t feeling that well. Mamoru suspected that she was also hurt by the coldness between the two groups but he could appreciate that Taro was in the same position that he was in. On one hand he wanted Usagi to fight, but on the other he wanted her to keep away so that he could protect her. Of course, Usagi could transform, Mamoru reminded himself whereas Ami could not.

Masaki was next, obviously not wanting to stick around with the tension in the air. He got up from the table, but as he did so he stumbled slightly, forcing Kisho to also stand and grab him by the shoulders lest he fall.

“Daijobu?” Mamoru asked concerned somewhat when he saw how pale his friend had become. Masaki frowned and then nodded:

“I think so.”

Mamoru did not know whether to press this issue and Masaki did not elaborate on ‘I think so’ but Usagi was more forward and stepped between him and the door.

“Are you sure?” she asked softly, “You look pale, Masaki-kun.”

“I’m fine” Masaki all but snapped at her, “I’m just feeling a little off-colour, that’s all.”

Releasing that this was all that they were going to get out of him, Mamoru allowed his friend to leave. After the revelations of today, he couldn’t blame Masaki for being a little overwhelmed by it all. Mamoru himself couldn’t quite believe it. After four years it looked as though they were going to have to fight again.

******

But I will respect your decision for now

Kisho watched Mamoru and Usagi leave in subdued silence, as he turned over the conversation of earlier in his mind. It would seem, after everything that had happened, he and Mamoru would never agree on how to fight. Of course, Kisho was loyal to his friend, but his ‘leave things be’ attitude frustrated him somewhat. Now that they all knew about the Youma, Kisho didn’t see why they couldn’t find the beast and put an end to this. If killing the Youma meant that they found the true enemy sooner, then so be it.

Of course, Kisho knew that the part of him who had missed becoming Kunzite revelled in the chance/excuse to fight again. He had been feeling restless for a while and now this opportunity to use his powers had presented itself, Kisho did not intend on sitting around waiting for an unseen enemy to attack. Why should they? The Shitennou had the element of surprise after all. No one would be expecting them. Why wait? It was absurd.

Taro had made his feelings perfectly clear on the matter; he would follow Mamoru. Masaki, Kisho knew, would not follow anyone else simply because he was a follower and not a leader. In any case, it was obvious that the youngest of them was feeling unwell and asking him to go looking for trouble would be unfair of him.

Casting a glance at Seiichi out of the corner of his eye, Kisho saw that the younger man had finished making his call to the studio, requesting that a car was sent to pick him up, and had now sat back down seemingly also troubled by these new events.

“How do you feel about fighting again?” Kisho asked, recalling the conflict that Seiichi had faced during most of their war against the Dark Kingdom.

“It will be a little strange at first” he admitted, “We’ve all moved on over the last four years.”

Kisho found this difficult to comprehend coming from the one who, at one time, had sworn that being one of the Shitennou was all that mattered. Still, despite his change in opinion, Kisho hoped that he could rely on Seiichi’s support.

Never being one to beat around the bush, he sat down beside his friend and said, “I’m going to look for the Youma. Will you come with me?”

“We decided to wait.”

“Mamoru decided that, not me.”

“You said that you would respect his decision.”

“I do respect his decision, but I cannot sit here and wait for the enemy to make the next more. Surely you can understand that?”

“I can, but we cannot act foolishly. It could cause a backlash later on, you of all people should know that.”

“I am not going to act foolishly. I just want to find out more about this new enemy so that we can protect the Prince and Princess. I had hoped that I could count on your support?”

Seiichi considered his words for a few minutes before answering, “You’re going to go regardless, aren’t you?”

Kisho nodded.

“Then I really have no choice in the matter. I’m not going to be able to concentrate on my music if I know you’re wandering around Juuban looking for Youma.”

“Thank you” Kisho said, “I do appreciate it.”

And he did, Kisho realised. Fighting a Youma was one thing, but facing an unknown enemy alone was another. He was glad of Seiichi’s support, perhaps more so than he was willing to let on.

******

You’d only get in the way. You are just civilians now.

For the first time since her rebirth, Makoto felt herself truly start to resent the life that she led now. As she entered her restaurant and sat down at one of the empty tables, followed closely by Minako and Rei, Makoto got the distinct impression that they felt pretty much the same way.

As much as she hated to admit it to herself, Makoto knew that the former Shitennou were right. In their reborn forms they were helpless against Youma and she did not like it one bit.

“We are the Princess’s guardians” Minako all but seethed, “We should be able to fight. We have to be able to defend Usagi-chan.”

When we fight we do not want to have to worry about your safety, too.

Both Rei and Makoto were in agreement to this, and it bothered Minako greatly that she should be seen as weak. Indeed, Makoto hated it, too, but, as leader, Minako had always taken on greater burdens than the rest of them, especially in the past life.

Of course, Makoto understood that, if they wanted to help, they couldn’t keep up this distrust between the two parties. Already it made life very difficult for Ami and Usagi, the former declining to come back here and talk things through, as she was worried about how Taro might react to this. Ami didn’t want to be seen to be taking sides, especially in her condition and Makoto couldn’t blame her for that. Minako and Rei were a little hurt by her actions, however, not knowing the real reasoning behind them.

“We will defend Usagi” Rei assured Minako, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder as she spoke, “Despite what the Shitennou think.”

Makoto nodded in agreement and Rei continued:

“Makoto, you can go to the library with Ami and look for details of any other attacks. If you find any then we can go to the scene and see if the Youma left any trace behind, anything that we can follow. I’ll try to use my natural powers to see if I can find out who is behind this.”

Known to the Shitennou and Mamoru, Rei had been reborn with a psychic sixth sense, a sense that all miko’s were born with. Rei could often see things that others would miss and used her abilities to find missing items for people and even for minor healing. She could sense hidden desires and agendas. This would be to their advantage, Makoto knew and was secretly feeling a little smug that the guys had dismissed them so easily.

“So you are saying that we should go about this our own way?” Makoto questioned once Rei had finished speaking.

“No” Rei shook her head, “They were right. In our current forms we cannot fight Youma, but we can help. I can use my wards to help keep Usagi safe as well as protect the meeting room from attacks.”

Minako nodded, “We will defend our Princess, no matter what.”

******

“So” Usagi said slowly as she and Mamoru walked, hand in hand, down the streets of Tokyo towards her home. It had gotten dark fairly quickly and, after spending the remainder of the day together, Mamoru had offered to walk Usagi home. His girlfriend had readily accepted this, but had been behaving a little strangely since the meeting. Usagi had been more subdued and then, all of a sudden, had changed characteristics and was her usual bubbly and cheerful self. Mamoru did not know what to make of this and had put it down to the fact that she was feeling a little bad for her friends, as was Mamoru himself.

Disappointed at his friends reaction to the girls offer to help, despite knowing that things would never be that straightforward, Mamoru was beginning to accept this. He just hoped that they could manage to find some sort of medium. The last thing they needed was for them all to be fighting themselves.

“So, who do you think this new enemy is?” Usagi asked softly, her eyes not quite meeting Mamoru’s gaze as she spoke.

“I don’t know,” he admitted quietly, hating the fact that, for now, they were helpless, but he refused, unlike Kisho, to jump into something blind. He just prayed that his friend wasn’t going to do anything stupid.

“Perhaps it is just a renegade Youma?” Usagi continued hopefully.

Mamoru shook his head, pausing as they came to her house, “I cannot believe that. Usagi.” He reached up and placed his hands on her shoulders, “I do not want you to fight. It is too dangerous.”

Usagi nodded, “I know” she agreed, “And I feel the same way about the Senshi. I can transform and protect myself, but they can’t. Nothing would pain me more than seeing them hurt.”

“So you won’t fight?”

“I will defend myself if I need too, but no, I will leave this battle to you and the Shitennou.”

Mamoru wasn’t quite sure how to take this. He had been convinced that Usagi would argue with him. That she would want to fight alongside him. To have her yield to his request was a little out of character to say the least.

Nothing would pain me more than seeing them hurt

The Senshi… she has seen them die before… It hurt her so much before. She does not want to lose them… I can understand that.

Mamoru shuddered slightly; the memories of his friends’ deaths were still etched into his own mind and would be for the rest of his life. The fact that he had come so close to losing them… he could understand Usagi’s pain.

He pulled her into his arms, feeling her clinging to his back in almost desperation as she uttered a small sob. “Mamoru-kun” she whispered softly, “I don’t want to lose them… not again.”

“You won’t” Mamoru assured her, “I promise.”

We won’t lose anyone… not again…

******

With the former Senshi’s exit, the meeting had broken up pretty quickly and Masaki had been keen to get home. Home was now a one bedroom flat on the top floor of an apartment block overlooking Tokyo harbour. He had moved out only 6 months ago at last feeling that Tori was able to cope on her own. Of course, Masaki made an added effort to see her every day if possible. Haru had torn her confidence to shreds and she had only just managed to get back to work, working as a librarian’s assistant four days a week in Tokyo’s library. Through the library she had made a few friends whom she saw two or three times a week out of work, too.

Masaki, too, had finally decided upon a career path and now studied in college four days a week. He was studying psychology and wanted to become a psychologist. In fact he had a lecture later on today which was why he was also keen to leave. Also, he had to admit that he wasn’t as keen to be fighting again as Kisho was. After all the last time he had become Jadeite he had…

Masaki snapped off this train of thought and hurriedly gathered his things together, murmuring to Seiichi that he had somewhere to be and that he would call Mamoru tomorrow to get an update on the situation.

“You fear me. Why? Did you not expect to see me this way?”

Masaki paused as he heard a voice, his own he realised. Looking up it would appear that no one else had heard this. Only Usagi was watching him, somewhat quizzically.

“This is now my true form. If you wish to save this miserable planet and go back to your meaningless and pathetic lives then you will have to destroy me.”

What? Why am I saying that? This is… Masaki frowned as he suddenly became aware of a pounding in his head. It had begun as a dull ache when the meeting had started and, he thought, it had subsided. Now it was back with renewed ferocity, a further burst of pain causing him to stumble as he was in the process of getting up from the table.

Kisho, perhaps sensing his unease, grabbed a hold of him, and for this Masaki was glad and couldn’t help but lean against his older friend for a few seconds whilst he gathered himself.

“Daijobu?” Mamoru asked, noting Masaki’s discomfort.

As the remaining few turned their heads to look at him, Masaki pulled away from Kisho feeling very self-conscious all of a sudden.

“I think so,” he said in response to Mamoru’s question and Usagi continued with:

“Are you sure? You look pale, Masaki-kun.”

“You fear me. Why? Did you not expect to see me this way?”

That voice… his voice… what was this?

“I’m fine” he shot back, well aware of the hostility eating into his voice, “I’m just feeling a little off-colour, that’s all.”

Not awaiting a response, Masaki had left, suddenly just wanting to be on his own.

He caught the bus back to his apartment, calling Tori briefly en route to explain to her that he had an lecture this afternoon and would not be able to come round until tomorrow. In truth, Masaki no longer felt like attending the lecture. He also had a thesis on how trauma could affect someone mentally to write and he had barely started on this, recalling all too well his own experiences whilst in the Dark Kingdom.

Could that be it? Are those voices memories?

Masaki did not recall all the time he spent in the Dark Kingdom. He knew that he had betrayed his friends and when he realised this he had been taken to Beryl and…

Masaki felt his trembling increase as the Queen of the Dark Kingdom stepped out of the shadows towards them, her mouth pulled back in a sly smile that showed off her pearl white teeth. In that moment he understood why Taro had been so terrified of her. Beryl was so much different from the Youma they had fought, or even the Dark Senshi. She was as old as the Kingdom itself and her power was fuelled by her bitterness and hatred. Yet she did not control her power her emotions did and that was, in a sense, more destructive than even the Ginzuishou’s shine.

Still shaking, Masaki turned to flee the cavern as his sense of dread deepened. His fear was overwhelming his mind, threatening to send him to his knees if he did nothing. Yet as he moved, so did Mio, blocking the only exit with her own body. Masaki paused, transforming with the intention of killing her on the spot. Never before, in his right mind, had he considered killing a human, even one such as Mio, but he suddenly realised the true terror of what Beryl had in store for him.

Then he felt her presence behind him, as the two Youma sprung forth from the darkness, grabbing hold of him in a grip that he couldn’t manage to break, no matter how hard he tried.

She had killed him… he had died down there… Masaki gasped softly, suddenly gripped by uncontrollably panic. Clenching his fists tightly at his sides as he stumbled into his bedroom, knocking various papers and books off of his desk by the door as he did so, Masaki collapsed onto his bed, exhaling deeply as he struggled to fight back the tears that were building up behind his eyes. He rarely thought of such things… to do so caused him to react in this way… This way that was…

The Youma with the dagger roughly twisted his wrist around and then tore at the sleeve of his uniform, ripping the fabric away to reveal his bare flesh beneath. Then, with a quick darting movement, the Youma slashed the blade across his skin, cutting deeply into the vein.

Jadeite’s tears fell freely now, as he felt blood gushing from the wound and it ran down his wrist to pool on the floor beneath him.

Shakily he pulled up the sleeve of his jacket, staring at the faint, but to his eyes clearly visible, pink scar, a few centimetres across, his only physical reminder of how he had suffered… He shuddered, recalling the sensation of his blood running down his arm and onto the floor… the terror he had felt at that moment…

Stop it… stop it… Why else do I never think of this? I cannot think of this… this nightmare… to do so would mean that I…

Still, his want to push these thoughts from his mind did not stop the tears that started to fall…

******

“I’m going to look for the Youma. Will you come with me?”

“We decided to wait.”

“Mamoru decided that, not me.”

“You said that you would respect his decision.”

“I do respect his decision, but I cannot sit here and wait for the enemy to make the next more. Surely you can understand that?”

Kisho sighed to himself and paused under a street lamp to stare down at his watch. The LCD screen said 12.40. It was well passed midnight and Seiichi had just called for a car to take him back home. He had offered to give Kisho a lift but the older man had declined, preferring very much to walk home rather than add to Tokyo’s pollution problem. Seiichi had obviously put his brusqueness down to the fact that they had searched all afternoon and evening and had not found a Youma or even the signs that one had been around at all.

This very much frustrated him as Kisho had been hoping that they could have at least had a battle. He hated the fact that, once again, innocent civilians were being targeted. As one of the Shitennou he had a duty to protect Japan from such beings. Even in the past life, the role of the Shitennou was also to protect the palace and the kingdom’s people, not just their Prince.

Seiichi, too, Kisho knew was a little disappointed, although the pianist knew how to hide it. Seiichi also confided in Kisho that he had supposed to be picking up the rest of his England tour on Saturday and he just didn’t know what to do. The flight had been booked and all the tickets for the next three months were sold out. If he didn’t go then he would disappoint a huge number of his foreign fanbase. If he did go then he would feel as though he was turning his back on his duty.

Kisho had to admit it was a tough call. They all had lives now and these, once again, would have to be put on hold for the sake of the mission. A part of Kisho really wanted to tell Seiichi to go, but he knew that his friend would not be comfortable with this and thus Kisho told him to stay, making the decision for him. Seiichi seemed relieved of this and muttered something about Tetsuya was going to completely freak out at the thought of cancelling before leaving. Kisho knew that, as of late, Seiichi was finding Tetsuya’s almost parental obligation to him a little suffocating which was why, when the tour of England was arranged, Tetsuya was not permitted to come with him. Kisho only supposed that it was the fact that Tetsuya had been Seiichi’s father’s best friend that contributed to this over protectiveness, or he told Seiichi. Kisho was also inclined to think that Tetsuya was hiding something, but knowing better than to voice this to Seiichi. When the younger man had finally admitted to Kisho a year or so ago what had happened during his awakening, Kisho was finally able to understand why he had behaved the way he did during their last war against the Dark Kingdom. Although he did tell Seiichi that it might have been better if he had told him back then.

Still, the past was the past, and Kisho, despite his own want to fight again, could understand why his friends weren’t as keen. Just as things were finally on track again…

Kisho turned down the familiar path that led out of the city and towards his home. He and Ayame lived out of the city but close enough to walk in manageably. They had bought a run down cottage in need of repair with the money that their mother had left them. After a year or so of doing the cottage up together, it was now worth twice what it was.

Still, now with the possibility of more Youma attacks, Kisho couldn’t help but think that the cottage was in a very isolated area and worried about leaving his sister alone for prolonged periods of time.

As Kisho turned down another path, this leading away from the lights of the city, still deep in thought, it struck. The first he was even aware of the Youma’s presence was when the beast slammed an attack into his chest, throwing him to the ground. He landed on his back, the dizzying force of the attack knocking the breath from his body and causing stars to dance before his vision.

Struggling to ignore this, Kisho rolled to his left as he sensed another attack, the energy striking the spot where he had been seconds before. Getting to his feet, he glanced wildly around, feeling blood running down his cheek and a dull throbbing in his chest where the first attack had struck.

He had barely time to register this as again it attacked. Kisho again managed to evade the Youma as it lunged at him once more. Twisting out of its reach, he leapt back, already struggling to focus on his transformation as it continued in its flight, unable, or so he thought, to stop.

A gasp escaped him as it twisted bid air, using the trunk of the tree that it had been about to crash into to pivot around in mid-air and lung towards him once more.

Kisho grunted in pain as it seized him by the shoulders, using the momentum and its own body weight to slam him back into a tree behind him. His head snapped back, striking the trunk with a force that caused the world to flash black and white before his eyes. Using this to its advantage, the Youma drew back a clawed hand and then slammed it forward, into Kisho’s stomach. A scream escaped him as he fought to free himself, to focus on transforming but the extra agony that this induced… he could do nothing against this… the burning sensation that came with this new wound was too great, even after the Youma released him, teleporting away in a flash of white light.

Kisho slumped to the ground, feeling light-headed as he hit the dirt. There wasn’t much blood, but the pain… he gritted his teeth in order to suppress another cry that might call the Youma back to finish him whilst he lay helpless.

It’s strong… stronger than any Youma we have ever faced before…Kisho realised with a chill, but this strength was not infinite. The force driving the Youma wasn’t power but anger. Anger and hatred towards him… towards them all. Emotions were the most power fuel for evil. Kisho had long since learned and, for the first time, he felt truly afraid. This being could well be beyond any of them.

******

Act Fifty Five Preview:

“I wanted to talk to you… about the Dark Kingdom.”