Earth
Guardian Prince Endymion
By Senshi
of Ruin and Mizu no Senshi
Act Fifty Five Recap:
(Mamoru’s POV)
“You don’t have to worry about me, you know”
Mamoru looked up as Kisho entered the room, his gait a
little slower than usual as he made his way towards him. Mamoru also noted a
slight uneasiness in his eyes and that he was doubled over as he walked.
Ayame hung back by the door for a few seconds before
disappearing into the back garden, obviously to allow them a chance to talk
alone.
“Then you shouldn’t give me a cause to worry” Mamoru
replied as Kisho sat down on the chair opposite him, “Ayame told me what
happened. You went looking for a Youma, didn’t you?”
I can’t say I was really shocked when Kisho decided to go
looking for trouble, despite what we had agreed. His opinions concerning such
things would always differ to mine and, as when I would act cautiously, Kisho
very much prefers to seek out an enemy rather than wait for them to find us.
“I’m not trying to tell you what to do. You can decide
upon the best course of action alone if you wish. I thought we had all decided
upon things together as a team. I don’t want anyone to get hurt. Looking for
Youma alone is dangerous.”
I wasn’t really angry either. Kisho was fine and that was
the main thing… or so I thought.
Forcing away any anxious thoughts that were building up in
the back of his mind, Mamoru took a sip of the coffee that Makoto had given him
and willed himself to relax. She would probably be here in a minute. In fact
she was probably---
Mamoru started slightly, his train of thought interrupted
when two patrons sitting near the window screamed. Bolting up, Mamoru leapt
backwards as the glass shattered, knocking the couple to the floor.
I was waiting for Usagi to meet me at Makoto’s restaurant
when a pair of Youma attacked. They were stronger than any we had faced before
and created completely by the rage of their master.
Thrown back
several feet, Jadeite slammed into the opposite wall and collapsed,
de-transforming as he did so, Nephrite and Zoisite followed suit and both Youma
turned, intending on leaving the restaurant.
Even when the Shitennou arrived, they were more or less
powerless against them and both Youma escaped, but that isn’t important right
now.
Jadeite nodded and moved to help them, but as Endymion was
about to follow suit, Kisho suddenly doubled over in, what appeared to be,
agony. He clutched tightly at his stomach, the colour draining from his face as
he did so.
“Kisho? What is it?”
“I-- I don’t know” he whispered, his brows furrowed
together in concentration, “I can’t seem to…” he cried out again and fell
further forward until he was on his knees.
“What is it?”
Kisho took several minutes to answer him and when he did
finally, looking up at Endymion, the fear and pain evident in his eyes as he
whispered, “I can’t transform.”
******
Act Fifty-Six:
“Baka! What was that supposed to achieve?”
Kisho ignored him and turned to leave the restaurant.
“Matte!” Mamoru snapped, grabbing hold of his arm. Kisho
swung around angrily and pushed him back into the wall behind.
“Kisho!”
“Just. Leave. Me. Alone”
Kisho leaned back against the closed classroom door,
exhaling loudly as he thought back over the events of yesterday and with some
degree of shame at how he reacted towards Mamoru. He didn’t understand, Kisho
reminded himself. He didn’t understand what it was like. Losing his
transformation was like losing a part of himself. He felt vulnerable, weak, and
Kisho hated this.
As they did this, Kisho suddenly moved before Endymion
could stop him, placing himself between the Youma and the exit.
The Youma didn’t even pause, the first one catching him a
glancing blow around the face that knocked him to the floor as they exited the
building.
He had been helpless against the Youma, more so than even
the transformed Tennou. All night he had laid awake thinking of such things and
how his loss had been possible.
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.
That Youma… what had it done to him?
Kisho moved away from the door, to stand at the window,
looking down below him at the high school children enjoying their half an hour
break before lessons would begin again.
“Kuso” he whispered softly as he leaned against the
window and closed his eyes. He was supposed to defend them… being Kunzite was a
part of his destiny and that destiny had been ripped away from him. It was
clear that the powers that this enemy possessed were far superior to his own.
For the first time in his life, Kisho was beginning to feel truly afraid.
“Kisho?” he looked up as Mamoru entered the room, gently
pushing the door shut behind him. He had wondered how long it would take for
his friend to come here. He gave a half smile at this and turned his attention
back to the outside as Mamoru took a hesitant step in his direction.
“I’m sorry” Mamoru said as he came to his side, “I’m sorry
about yesterday.”
“Why should you be?”
He shrugged, “I don’t know” he answered honestly, “I just
feel as though there was something more that I should have done” he laughed
sadly, “I don’t know what it was though.”
“There is nothing you can do. That Youma… it did something
to me, I can feel it.”
“There has to be a way to reverse it” Mamoru said, always
the optimist. “Masaki, Taro and Seiichi think that perhaps they could do
something.”
Kisho shook his head, “There is nothing they can do.”
“There must be something” Mamoru answered stubbornly, “Are
you just going to give up?”
“Of course not” Kisho snapped. Deep down… he didn’t want
to give up… how could he do that? This was his destiny and he wasn’t going to
let this new enemy take it away from him.
“Good” Mamoru smirked slightly, “Who else can I rely on to
look out for me?”
Kisho smiled, although it was forced, “Exactly. But you
know it will take more than a simple healing spell” his smile turned into a
frown as he said this, as he knew that his words were true.
Mamoru nodded, “The others know this, too, but they know a
lot more about their powers, and limits, this time around. I’m sure there is
something that they can do.”
“And this new enemy?”
“We cannot do anything until we know who we are up
against” Mamoru answered, repeating what they had decided on before and Kisho
wasn’t in a position to argue this.
“Those Youma killed a man” Mamoru continued, “We must not
let that happen again, but at the same time we cannot allow ourselves to make a
rushed decision.”
In other words he was saying that they couldn’t allow one
man’s death to cause them to make a rash decision, Kisho knew, and nodded in
approval to this. Finally, Mamoru was beginning to see that individual loss of
life, as terrible as it was, could not be taken into account during a war and
that was what this was, a war. Until they knew who they were up against they
would continue to fight Youma to defend Tokyo, but they could not afford to
make decisions based on loss of life alone, no matter who’s it might be.
He grimaced slightly at the stab of pain in his stomach
that almost accentuated this. It had ached on and off since he was attacked, a
side effect, Kisho could only guess.
“You shouldn’t really be here, should you?” Mamoru said
softly to this.
Kisho shrugged, “What else can I do?”
“Get some rest?”
Kisho did half agree with him, but was loath to admit it,
until Mamoru insisted, “I’ll clear it with the sensei” he said as he turned to
leave the room, “Perhaps we could discuss the enemy?” he added as an after
thought, “I do value your insight you know.”
Kisho knew what he was trying to do. He was trying to make
him feel better about the situation by attempting to keep him in the loop when
Mamoru knew as well as he did that he couldn’t fight and shouldn’t be placed in
a situation where he could get attacked because, as he was now, he was as
helpless as the former Senshi, and Kisho hated it.
******
Tsukino Usagi had been asleep when Mio returned, allowing
her glamour to fade as she stepped passed the Youma guarding her captive and
knelt down beside the other girl. Usagi slowly opened her eyes, and Mio laughed
scornfully at how they widened in fear when she realised in how close proximity
she was to her enemy.
Usagi flinched slightly as Mio shifted her position to a
more comfortable one and noted that the food and water that the Youma had left
her had gone untouched and she commented on this.
“I’m not hungry” was the sullen and tired response.
“Mou” Mio pouted slightly, disappointed that, at last, the
fire in her seemed to have gone out and she commented as much with, “Are you
giving up already? Where’s the fun in that?”
“It is not a case of giving up” Usagi raised her head, too
weak to do anything more and she smiled, “Mamoru will be here soon. I know he
will.”
Mio scowled at her undying faith, “Mamoru is oblivious to
my true form.”
“That’s what you think, but I know he’s looking for me.”
Lunging forward, unable to contain her annoyance any more,
Mio grabbed a fist full of Usagi’s hair and pulled her up so that she was
looking her directly in the eyes, “That’s what you would like to think, isn’t
it? Would you like to know how Mamoru and his precious Shitennou are doing
against me? Yesterday my Youma attacked Makoto’s restaurant. Mamoru-tachi did
their best, but their powers are weak compared to how mine are now.”
“Mamoru… is he okay?” Usagi whispered.
“He’s fine” Mio let her go and stood, “I would not harm Mamoru.”
Usagi shuddered, not liking the tone in her voice one bit.
Mio ignored this and concentrated on forming her glamour
once more, “I’m meeting him for lunch again today, seeing as we were
interrupted yesterday. He didn’t even ask why I didn’t come to the restaurant
on time. Don’t you just love how much he trusts you… me?”
“He’s playing along with your little game.”
Mio smirked, “I doubt it. If that is true then he’ll come
to stop me later then.”
“Why?” the colour drained from Usagi’s face as she said
these words and Mio feared that she had said too much, “What are you going to
do?”
Ignoring this question, Mio turned to the Youma and said,
“Make sure she eats, force feed her if necessary. I don’t want the game to end
yet.”
“What are you going to do?” Usagi cried out as Mio walked
towards the exit. There she paused for a few seconds and turned back to her
captive as she smiled slyly an replied: “I’m going to make things a little more
interesting that’s all.”
“No” Usagi shook her head, possibly guessing what Mio
meant by ‘interesting’, “Please, don’t hurt anyone, not as me… please…”
Mio ignored her cries and left the building, content to
allow the Youma to silence her.
Usagi-chan… you have no idea how much hurt I’m going to
cause… no idea at all…
******
Studio Pento was, for once, quiet, as Seiichi found when
he pushed open the double class doors and stepped inside. In the lobby a few
technicians sat reading magazines and drinking from cans of drink that they had
obtained from the vending machine in the corner of the room. Seiichi hadn’t
been due to come in today but after various events yesterday he felt too tense
to stay in his apartment and had decided that he might as well get some
practice in. With his music career, once again, on hold, he supposed that he
didn’t really need the practice, but when he was this tense he preferred to be
playing the piano. It would help him to collect his thoughts.
Yesterday had been an unsettling day in one way or another
and had started out so, too.
“Seiichi. Did I do anything else, as Metallia, I mean? Did
I hurt anyone else?”
“No. No one else.”
Seiichi, at the time, had felt bad at lying to his friend,
but he was sure that he would feel even worse had he told him the truth about
his own death in the Dark Kingdom. How could he do that? Especially when they,
himself, Mamoru and Kisho, had decided to keep the true events from him.
Seiichi supposed he should have told Mamoru that Masaki remembered killing
Beryl, but after what happened to Kisho, Seiichi had deemed it best left alone.
Masaki wasn’t the sort to dwell on things, and Seiichi was confident that their
talk had been enough to stop him from questioning further events. If Masaki, as
he was sure he had, had cast these thoughts to the back of his mind then there
was no danger of him remembering anything.
Seiichi also knew that to dwell on the past would distract
them from the present and they couldn’t afford to let their guard down. These
Youma were strong, as Kisho’s inability to transform proved to them all.
This was another reason for Seiichi coming to the studio.
Masaki and Taro were due to meet him here in a little while. He hoped that the
three remaining Tennou would be able to do something against whatever spell had
been cast and Seiichi was sure that it was some kind of magical ward preventing
Kisho from transforming rather than a case of the transformation being
completely gone. Of course he had not said anything to the others about this.
He wanted to be able to have some time to think first and get things sorted out
in his own mind before voicing any assumptions that he might have. There was
nothing worse than false hope and Seiichi certainly didn’t want to give Kisho
that.
He paused at the reception desk as another thought crossed
his mind and enquired to know if Tetsuya had cancelled the rest of the England
Tour yet. As he suspected, this wasn’t the case and Seiichi quietly thanked the
girl behind the desk before getting himself a drink and then leaving the lobby
completely to walk down the practically deserted corridor towards the recording
rooms.
The receptionist had been kind enough to arrange for a
soundproof room where he could practice alone and without fear of being
disturbed, but Seiichi had also left a message for her to allow any visitors
down to see him.
Reaching the aforementioned room, he opened the door and
went inside, carefully shutting the door behind him. This private room was at
the end of the corridor, which also suited him fine as it meant that there
would be minimal distractions. Setting his drink down atop of the piano that
the studio had also been good enough to tune in advance for him, Seiichi also
put his bag down on the stool and shuffled through some sheet music for several
minutes before deciding to give Tetsuya a call.
The fact that Tetsuya had not yet cancelled anything
annoyed him slightly and Seiichi intended to find out why. His manager picked
up the phone after several rings and Seiichi cut right to the chase and asked
him out right why he hadn’t done as instructed.
“I had hoped that you might change your mind” was the
response he got. “Do you know how damaging such a move is?”
“I told you that I would rearrange and that all those who
bought tickets would get a full refund plus assured entry to the next concert”
Seiichi answered, “And signed photographs. What more do you want me to do?”
“Go” Tetsuya snapped, “I want you to go. Surely
Mamoru-tachi will understand?”
“They would but I’m not going to shirk my
responsibilities.”
“And your career?”
“It will have to be put on hold for now.” Seiichi had made
no secret as to why he had cancelled. Tetsuya knew enough of the mission before
to understand, or so he had hoped, but this time his manager seemed keen for
him to go for reasons that Seiichi just couldn’t understand.
His manager sighed, realising that his mind was made up
and agreed to do as requested, despite his reservations. Seiichi, in all
honesty, until yesterday hadn’t been sure that he was doing the right thing but
those Youma were stronger. For the first time had felt utterly powerless in his
Tennou form and Seiichi hadn’t liked that feeling one bit.
Finishing the call, he slipped his phone into his jean
pocket and sat down at the piano and began to play Kinzuru. Playing an
old piece was always easier for him when he wanted to think as he could allow
his mind to wander, thinking back over the events of yesterday, he couldn’t
help but blush slightly as he recalled his other reasoning for wanting to
cancel the tour; Aino Minako.
At first, the fact she was a former enemy had bothered
Seiichi a little, this he couldn’t deny, but slowly over the last year he had
began to see her as more than that. She, too, had a very obvious talent and
love for music, although her passion was singing. Still, he hadn’t really
realised the extent of his feelings for her until the last time that he went
away. Of course, it was only through having the same studio and record company
that they knew each other at all, and it was also through the short
conversations that they did have that Seiichi felt an attraction to her. To
find that this attraction was mutual was a little bit of a surprise, despite
Taro and Masaki constantly telling him so. Seiichi was only sorry that
yesterday the moment was cut short.
He had been true to his word and had called her that
evening to assure her that everything fine, although omitting details about the
Youma attack, as Seiichi didn’t want to worry her, especially as she could no
longer henshin. They had also avoided the topic that, Seiichi was sure, was in
both their minds; should they publicly announce their relationship rather than
have the press making up stories about them for weeks on end. He wasn’t even
sure himself to what extent their relationship had progressed anyway. He hadn’t
even kissed her yet. He had wanted to but they hadn’t had a chance to be alone
and Seiichi would have felt too awkward about them sharing their first kiss in
public.
He finished playing the last few notes of Kinzuru and
looked up, distracted from his thoughts when the door opened.
“Seiichi-kun?” he was surprised to see Usagi standing on
the threshold, seemingly a little nervous for reasons that Seiichi couldn’t
fathom.
“Usagi” he stood, gently shutting the piano lid as he did
so.
“I was looking for Minako-chan” she said as she stepped
fully into the room, turning to shut the door behind her, “Have you seen her?”
“No” Seiichi said, feeling more than a little confused.
Although he now supported Usagi and Mamoru’s relationship, he wasn’t
particularly close to Usagi and he wasn’t altogether sure what to say to her.
“I don’t think Minako’s going to be coming in today.”
“Mou” she pouted, tugging at the end of one of her
ponytails as she took another, more confident, step towards him, as she
brightened up all of a sudden and said, “Not to worry. How are you,
Seiichi-kun?”
“Fine, thank you.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m fine” Seiichi reiterated, now feeling a little
uncomfortable around her, “And I don’t mean to be rude, but I was in the middle
of practicing.”
“Then continue” Usagi gave him another shy smile, “I
always liked to hear you play.”
Seiichi nodded, but did not move towards the piano.
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothing” he frowned slightly. There was something about
her… something that was different, that set her apart from the Usagi he knew.
“Then play,” she prompted him again.
He shook his head; “I was just about to take a break now.”
Seiichi took a step towards the door after speaking, but Usagi now blocked his
way.
“I thought you were in the middle of practicing?”
He didn’t reply and Usagi clenched her fists tightly at
her side as she suddenly snapped at him: “You don’t like me, do you,
Seiichi-kun?”
“Usagi-san--”
She laughed bitterly at this, sounding very unlike Usagi
as she continued, “You’ve always hated me. You hated me being close to
Mamoru-kun, didn’t you? I could see it in your eyes. You never wanted me near
your Master.”
“The past is no longer repeating. You can be with Mamoru
without fear of what might happen to the Earth. Why should I hate you?”
She took a step closer and Seiichi was astounded that he
had actually moved away from her, his unease heightening when he saw the
darkened look in her eyes and the way her body was trembling as she struggled
to assuage the terrible anger that was bubbling beneath the surface.
“Have you any idea how long I have suffered for? Have you
any idea how much pain the Shitennou put me through? For four years I have
waited, waiting for my body to heal and to grow stronger so that one day I
could make you all suffer in the same way that I have done” ‘Usagi’ smirked and
took another step forward allowing her glamour spell to disperse around her,
but Seiichi, from the moment she had spoken those words, knew who he was really
facing; Kuroki Mio.
In the instant that she allowed her guise to fall, she
drew back a hand before hurling an attack of energy at him. Seiichi had been
expecting this and managed to transform in that split second but was unable to
do anything against the attack. He grit his teeth as it struck his chest,
knocking him back a little way, but not powerful enough to do more than leave
him breathless. Forcing himself to take this onslaught, Zoisite drew his short
sword and successfully blocked her second attack, the energy striking the hilt
of his weapon before he managed to deflect it into the wall. A thin crack appeared
in the plaster where the energy hit and the room shuddered slightly, although,
as the room was soundproof, outsiders would have not heard a thing and assumed
that slight tremor was nothing more than a minor earthquake.
Mio frowned and raised a hand to defend herself from the
attack that Zoisite then threw at her. Catching the purple magics in her
outstretched hand, she fired them back at the Tennou, combining his powers with
her own.
This time, Zoisite discarded his sword in order to bring
his hands together and create a shield to block this more powerful attack,
sensing what damage to simply reflect it would be caused. This attack was
stronger than he had anticipated and he found himself stumbling slightly as he
struggled to hold the shield together, barely keeping the energy from striking
him, let alone being able to disperse it harmlessly as he had previous thought.
Gasping slightly with the effort, Zoisite poured more of
his own power into the crackling ball of energy in his hands, whilst taking
another step back in order to gain a better balance. The tips of his fingers
felt as though they were on fire and this pain slowly began to spread,
travelling up his arms to reach his chest. He inhaled deeply, forcing himself
to focus as he felt the shield waver. Sensing this weakness, Mio smiled slyly
before conjuring another ball of energy in her palm and hurling it in his
direction.
Zoisite felt it strike the energy in front of him and, for
a brief second, his world flashed white before his eyes as the shield shattered
and the energy was thrown back. As before, it struck him squarely in the chest,
throwing him back. Stunned and unable to stop this flight, Zoisite slammed into
the piano, his head rocking back and smashing into the closed lid. He did not
feel the initial blow but the pain that came after it was so intense that he
fell to his knees, feeling his transformation shimmer and then disappear
completely.
The fear that came with this pain was almost paralysing
and Seiichi felt himself fall further forward, onto his stomach, as his right
hand gingerly touched the deep gash on the back of his head and another burst
of pain tore through his skull with this movement. Withdrawing his hand and
moaning in agony, he could feel his grip on reality starting to fade.
This realisation was enough to momentarily pull him back
from the pain and Seiichi’s left hand fumbled in his pocket, clasping tightly
around his phone. He whimpered slightly at the pain in his hand at this
movement but forced himself to ignore this and he hit the speed dial, whilst
aware that Mio was slowly making her way towards him.
“Hello?” Mamoru answered and Seiichi struggled to find his
voice, but by then Mio had reached him. In one swift movement she kicked the
phone from his hand. It skidded across the floor and into wall, the case coming
off in its flight.
“I’ll ask you again” she said, a look of merriment in her
eyes as she observed his suffering before kneeling down beside him, “How are
you, Seiichi-kun?”
She did not expect an answer and, in which case, Seiichi
was unable to give her one. All he was able to concentrate on was the pain… the
sensation of blood running down the back of his neck and the waves of fatigue
and dizziness that were slowly overcoming him.
“You’ll bleed to death in here” Mio said, her voice
feigning sympathy, “Or you could lie here for hours suffering in agony. No one
will find you and this room is completely sound proof, as you know. Does it
hurt? I’m glad. Now you will know some of my suffering and so will your
friends.”
With those parting words she stood, her glamour now back
in place as she carefully exited the room, shutting the door behind her.
As she departed Seiichi could feel his eyes growing heavy
and they slid closed as the pain started to become further away, more detached
from him. He knew, deep down, that if he allowed himself to give in to sleep
then he would die, but the pain… staying awake for hours, as Mio had said… he
couldn’t bear it. So, instead he allowed himself to slip into unconsciousness.
******
“Look at that” Ami paused to look in yet another shop
window “Isn’t that kawaii,” she declared softly. Taro smiled and also paused to
lean over her shoulder and look at the baby clothes being modelled in the shop
window.
This was the third time she had stopped to admire such
things and Taro placed an arm around her shoulders drawing her to him whilst
promising here that their baby could have such things. He also wondered how the
hell he was going to afford it.
As decided, they had kept Ami’s pregnancy to themselves,
but it was becoming very difficult for Taro not tell his friends. Yet a part of
him was concerned by her condition. With this new enemy about and Youma still
wandering the streets, who knew what could happen.
He also had another problem. Taro knew that he should be
doing the right thing by Ami and marrying her. Being born out of wedlock
himself, Taro knew how older relatives would frown upon this and he didn’t want
Ami to be disgraced in any way. He loved her too much for that.
He had even bought her a ring, but had not yet plucked up
the courage to ask her. How could he now? Ami might think that was because she
was pregnant that he wanted to marry her and, to some extent, she would be
right, but Taro had always intended on marrying Ami anyway. To ask her now
seemed like the perfect time and yet, also, the worst.
“You should really stop promising such things,” Ami said
softly, drawing his thoughts back and to the store window.
“I want you to have the best” Taro answered, “I don’t want
you to go without, both of you” he added.
Ami smiled and placed a hand on her stomach, “And we
won’t. I know you’ll look after us.”
Taro nodded. He would look after her but… he looked away.
With this new enemy and Kisho being unable to transform… what if something
happened to him? This was a very real possibility, he knew. If something
happened to him then who would look after Ami and their child? Neither of them
had approached this subject, but Taro knew that it was pressing in the backs of
both their minds.
“What about names?” Ami said, drawing him back from these
thoughts as they continued to walk again, “Have you given any thought to that?”
“If it’s a boy I was thinking that we could call him
Kiyoshi,” he suggested, “How do you feel?”
Ami smiled, “I love it. If it’s a girl I thought perhaps
Aiko?”
“Aiko” Taro repeated, liking that and telling Ami as much.
“I’m glad we agree” Ami said softly.
Taro nodded in reply and then glanced down at his watch
and saw with dismay he was already late. He had offered to walk Ami to college
before going to meet Masaki and Seiichi at Studio Pento. They were going to
discuss what had happened to Kisho and see if there was any possibility of
helping him break whatever hold the enemy had on him.
“Then you should go” Ami said when Taro told her as much.
“No” he shook his head, not wanting to leave her alone
when there were still Youma in Tokyo. “I’ll walk you to college. The others
won’t mind if I’m a little later.”
Ami smiled gratefully and Taro put his arm around her once
more. Ami seemed to appreciate this comfort and leaned up to give him a kiss.
As Taro returned her embrace, the concern of being late now no longer crossed
his mind. Not when he was with the two most important people in the world to
him.
******
Masaki entered the studio, glancing at his watch and
finding that he was a little later than expected. Traffic had, once again, been
terrible in the Shibuya Ward and he had been forced to leave his car in the
street and walk the last block to Studio Pento. He just knew he was going to
get a ticket, Masaki grumbled to himself.
Why had Seiichi insisted that they meet in the studio
anyway? Why couldn’t they meet in Crown as they used too? He could only suppose
that Seiichi had to prepare for a concert or something. The star was supposed
to be going back to England at the weekend, but, according to Mamoru, this had
now been cancelled. Personally, Masaki liked the idea of escaping to a
different country and couldn’t see why Seiichi would prefer to stay fighting
Youma that had more or less kicked their butts anyway. He knew what he’d rather
be doing.
Pausing at the reception and gaining directions to the
recording room that his friend was in, Masaki sighed, knowing deep down that
this wasn’t true. A part of him was still angry at Seiichi-tachi for not
telling him, after all this time, that he had killed Beryl. No… Metallia had
killed Beryl, he corrected himself. He had been nothing but a mortal vassal. He
had died the moment that she entered him and he should not dwell on such
things.
Still, Masaki looked down at his hands, he had killed…
Slowly I raised my own weapon, a half smile flickering
across my lips as I plunged my own sword deep into the Queen’s back. Embedding
itself between her shoulder blades, the tip instantly reached her heart. She
fell, dead even before she hit the ground.
He had killed and recalled enjoying this fact.
Shaking his head to assuage these feelings, Masaki paused
outside the room that he had been directed too, wondering if he should knock
first. He couldn’t hear anyone inside, but then it was a soundproof room so he
would be surprised if he could hear anything.
Masaki decided against knocking and pushed open the door.
“You fear me. Why? Did you not expect to see me this way?”
“Seiichi!”
His friend was lying on his stomach, his head turned to
one side and his eyes were tightly closed. His lips were slightly parted as
each breath he drew was almost forced and was certainly laboured. He was
bleeding; a pool of blood had collected under his chin. Masaki stumbled,
feeling slightly dizzy and he momentarily closed his eyes as his trembling
increased. When he opened them, however, the scene before him had changed.
“Stand aside!” I demanded as they blocked my way. Fools…
thinking that they could possibly have a hope of wining. They have forgotten
that this is my Dark Kingdom, my hell…
To accentuate my point I slashed my blade across the back of the Youma’s
right arm, causing the creature to squeal in pain.
Zoisite withheld his own cry as a tear in his uniform
appeared in the exact same location and a thin trickle of blood welled up to
trail steadily down his sleeve and splash onto the stone floor.
“Stop it!” Endymion shouted as I raised the knife again a
smirk twisting my face as I revelled in their pain.
Yet I held back momentarily, demanding again that they
stand aside, digging my fingers into the torn flesh of the Youma and again
causing the Tennou pain.
He stood, defiant as always despite Endymion crying out:
“Stop it!”
My smirk became wider and I said: “If you come any closer
and I will slit its throat.”
Masaki fell to his knees. What was this? What am I doing?
He said I didn’t hurt anyone else… this can’t be true! I didn’t hurt him… he’s
my friend… I would never have done that to him!
“Don’t! Remember the mission--” I scowled and thrust the
knife deep into the Youma’s thigh, burying it in to the hilt and laughing at
the scream that did escape his lips at this action. Even now all he thought of
was the mission. Such a fool…
“Mamoru… please… don’t…”
“I’m sorry” Endymion whispered as he stood aside. The
Prince was always weak, especially in this world.
They were all fools if they thought that I would allow
them to walk from here alive. He knew this. Without breaking his agonised gaze
I thrust the knife into the Youma’s chest.
“No” Masaki whimpered softly and then louder “No!”
I wouldn’t have done that… I can’t have done that… “Tell
me I didn’t,” he whispered to his unconscious friend, “Tell me I didn’t do
that… Kami-sama--” he broke off in a choked sob, unable to move and unable to
tear his gaze from his fallen friend as the nightmarish scene replayed itself
over and over in his mind.
“Did I do anything else, as Metallia, I mean? Did I hurt
anyone else?”
“No. No one else.”
Masaki wasn’t sure how long he had been here when Taro
entered. It seemed as though he had been here for hours when, in reality, he
gauged that it must have been a good ten minutes at the most. The pool of blood
was certainly a lot larger, but he somehow felt strangely detached from the
scene, even when Taro swung around to face him and shouted: “Are you just going
to sit there? Help him!”
Masaki couldn’t reply… Taro didn’t understand. He didn’t
know what Masaki had done… that he had killed him…
So he stayed still, watching mutely as Taro knelt down
beside their unconscious friend, first checking his pulse and then calling for
help.
As he did this, Masaki suddenly became aware of another
noise… the sound of a phone ringing. His gaze darted around the room and
settled on Seiichi’s mobile that laid a few metres away from where the star
himself lay. Taro, by this time, had finished calling for the ambulance and
answered this, speaking in a low voice to whomever it was and then hanging up
and slipping the phone into his pocket.
“I killed him” Masaki whispered as Taro sat down at
Seiichi’s side, gently touching his shoulder and shaking him in an effort to
wake him up. Taro didn’t hear or pretended not to as he did not move from his
position on the floor. Masaki slumped back against the wall, keeping his gaze
averted, feeling unable to distinguish the reality from his own personal
hell.
******
Darkness… all around her… she could hear the screams of
her Princess… her friends… Rei couldn’t breath. She fell to her knees, her own
screams echoing around her as the city burned. Smoke invaded her nostrils,
pouring down her throat and causing her to cough. Fierce spasms shook her body
as her aching fingertips grasped at the ground beneath them, the tips torn and
bleeding, as was the rest of her body.
Unable to fight she was forced to witness this… Tokyo
burned around her… nothing could stop it…
“Tokyo will burn” Rei said softly as she told her three
friends what the flames had showed her.
“It can’t do” Ami whispered, her eyes as troubled as Rei’s
own, “The Shitennou--”
Rei silently shook her head. They would die; she could
feel it but was reluctant to voice this, especially in front of Ami.
“There must be something we can do” Makoto said
determinedly, “We cannot allow Tokyo to be destroyed.”
Rei nodded, an image coming to mind. On the Moon they had
been the Inner Senshi protecting the Princess and the Ginzuishou, their powers
bestowed upon them when they were of an age to accept responsibility for them.
The Princesses of the Inter Planetary systems…
“Rei?” Minako said, a small amount of suspicion entering
her voice, “What else do you know?”
If we become Senshi again then we will die… they all know
this… we alone are not enough to stop the darkness… but if we do nothing then I
will never forgive myself. We have to fight… and accept the consequences.
“If there is a way for us to regain our powers” Minako
stood, her fists almost clenched at her sides as she spoke and Rei realised
that she was trembling slightly.
“There is” she relented. “The Senshi Sword.”
“Minna! Hello!” just at that moment the door of the shrine
was slid open and Usagi hurried instead, smiling brightly at Minako as she sat
down between Ami and Makoto.
“You’re late” Rei observed quietly.
“I know” Usagi said, still smiling at Minako as she
answered this, “I had something that I had to take care of first.”
Rei nodded, but none of them really cared for Usagi’s
tardiness as all eyes were on the shrine Miko again.
“The Senshi Sword?” Ami prompted after a few moments
silence between them.
Rei nodded, glancing sideways at Minako. The idol
remembered it, too, Rei realised and sat back and allowed their former leader
to explain.
“Our powers, in the past life, were not powers that we
were born with” Minako said quietly, “They were imbued upon us when we were
fully trained and at an age where we could assume responsibility. The Senshi
Sword, the crux of the Senshi’s powers, symbolised our faith and trust in each
other and the Princess. The sword was a gift from Queen Serenity. She infused
it with some of the Ginzuishou’s powers in order to create our henshins in the
past life.”
“So the Senshi Sword gave us our powers?” Makoto
summarised softly, “But what became of it when the Silver Millennium was
destroyed?”
“It was cast back down to Earth when the Kingdom was
destroyed” Minako answered her, “It was cast back down to Earth because, deep
down, the Queen still believed that we could be turned back into the protectors
that we once were. She still believed in us, right until the end.”
This topic, their betrayal, was a difficult subject for
them all and Rei allowed a moment or two for silent thought until Usagi broke
it by saying:
“So you are going to look for this Senshi Sword and it
will enable you to fight again?”
“That is what we hope,” Rei confirmed.
To this, Usagi violently shook her head, “But… but what if
something happens to you? I don’t think I could bear to lose you again.”
“Usagi-chan” Ami whispered, very much touched by her
concern, as they all were, and she placed a hand on her friend’s shoulders, “We
couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you, either, that is why we must do
this.”
“Demo--”
“We don’t want you to fight alone” Minako said
determinedly, “We cannot sit here and watch the Shitennou and Mamoru-san fight.
They almost lost everything for this planet before. How can we ask them to
defend the Earth again when we know that we can help them?”
“The Shitennou are the guardians of the Earth” Usagi shook
her head, “It is their destiny.”
She was afraid, Rei knew, but there was something else…
something that she couldn’t quite put her finger on.
“We will not allow them to fight alone” Minako was
resolved, more determined than usual, even for her, and Rei cracked a small
smile thinking of how happy Minako had seemed when she came to the shrine. Even
when faced with the knowledge that they were now, Minako’s demeanour had not
changed. Of course she was taking the matters in hand seriously, as were they
all, but there was a quiet happiness about her and Rei had a feeling she knew
why.
Of course she knew Minako well enough to know that she
would tell them when she was good and ready and Rei wasn’t going to make
anything of it now, especially when Usagi was here knowing how their loudest
friend would react to this news.
“So” Minako continued, “We are decided. I am sorry, Usagi,
but we cannot allow this world to go to ruin. We will find the Senshi Sword and
restore our henshins.”
******
“This enemy” Kisho said to Mamoru as they left the school
behind them and started on their way back to Kisho’s home. Mamoru, still
feeling as though he should make doubly sure that Kisho was as fine as he
claimed, had decided to walk him back after agreeing with the Sensei that Kisho
should take some time off. Kisho himself hadn’t really noticed this silent
decision and was content to let Mamoru have his thoughts regarding the new
enemy.
“They are strong, but their energy is centred on rage” he
continued, “They are very strong but it is their emotions that are feeding
them. Their hatred towards us. I felt this both when I was attacked and again
later when we faced those Youma.”
“I see” Mamoru nodded, wondering why anyone could be that
furious with them. The only person that sprung to mind was Beryl and she was
dead and there was no chance of a rebirth for her he was sure. He had also felt
that anger and was very concerned that whoever it was, was far stronger than
any of them and he voiced this concern to Kisho.
“It is not a case of them being more powerful” he said
thoughtfully, “I don’t think they are. Otherwise they would need a lot more
energy than that of one man. It is the rage that makes them angry. To attack in
fury is a foolish thing to do. They will make a mistake sooner or later.”
“So you’re saying that they’ll attack blind at some point
and that is the time to confront them?” Mamoru asked, keen for Kisho’s input.
In the past life, Kunzite had always been able to see beneath the surface and
second-guess the enemy on many occasions and Mamoru hoped that it was the same
in the present. The fact that they were, again, fighting an unseen enemy did
not appeal to Mamoru despite his want to wait for them to make the next move
and he said as much.
Kisho shook his head, cracking a small smile as he did so
and was about to reply when Mamoru’s phone rang.
“Seiichi” he commented for Kisho’s benefit before
answering the call, “Hello?”
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a few
seconds and Mamoru heard a clatter and the phone went dead. Frowning, he
glanced up at Kisho and shrugged. “He must have dropped it. I’m sure he’ll call
back in a few minutes.”
Kisho didn’t comment on this and continued where they had
left off before, “When they do attack, we need some sort of plan. You’ll need
to get everyone together before hand. Also, bear in mind that it has been four
years since they have used their powers. Four years may not seem to be a long
time but our powers were always difficult to master.”
“So, on top of all this, you’re saying that we’re out of
practice where our powers are concerned? You are supposed to be reassuring me!”
Kisho shrugged, “Had you thought of any of this?”
“No, but--”
“Then you should be grateful. It is not just a case of
fighting again and you know it.”
Mamoru sighed. He was getting the feeling that Kisho was
enjoying putting him on edge. He supposed he should be glad that it took
Kisho’s mind off his own problems and for that Mamoru was glad.
They turned a corner and down the road that led out of the
main city. Mamoru enquired to know exactly where Kisho was attacked and the man
told him, although a little reluctantly. He also explained how he managed to
get home.
“I do worry for Ayame” he confided, “We are rather
isolated now and sometimes she is left alone, but I wouldn’t have moved us
there if I thought that we would have to fight again.” He also added that
perhaps they should move back into the city.
“You have spent such a lot of time and money on the place”
Mamoru pointed out, “It would be a shame to leave now.”
Kisho smirked, “I thought you’d be the first one to agree
with me?”
“We have lives now. Why should this new enemy force us to
only half live them? I don’t mean that we should take stupid risks like you did
the other night, but that cottage is your home.”
He nodded, and for ten or so minutes the topic of
conversation became normal again, although the new enemy and the worry of the
last battle was still very much in the forefront of Mamoru’s mind.
Kisho took several minutes to answer him and when he did finally,
looking up at Endymion, the fear and pain evident in his eyes as he whispered,
“I can’t transform.”
Endymion had no time to feel anything as he heard his
other friends cry out in pain as they were felled. Thrown back several feet,
Jadeite slammed into the opposite wall and collapsed, de-transforming as he did
so, Nephrite and Zoisite followed suit and both Youma turned, intending on
leaving the restaurant.
To make matters worse, that Youma was still at large in
the city.
Mamoru paused suddenly, as a thought crossed his mind.
Swallowing hard he felt that his heart had started to beat twice as fast and
his hands were shaking slightly.
“What is it?” Kisho asked, although the clouded over
expression in his eyes said that he had felt it, too, though Mamoru wasn’t
entirely sure what ‘it’ was.
“I’m not sure” he frowned, and then shook his head, “It’s
probably nothing.”
“Call Seiichi back” Kisho said suddenly, his voice taking
on an urgent tone.
Mamoru did this, without question, as his sense of dread
began to deepen. It continued to do so when the phone continuously rang and
rang until, finally, it was answered.
“You took your time” Mamoru said without even waiting for
a response, “I thought something had happened to you” he hoped the relief wasn’t
evident in his voice, but this relief died in an instant when the person on the
other end spoke.
“Mamoru, its Taro. I’m at the studio. Masaki’s here, too.
Something’s happened.”
His unwillingness to confirm exactly secretly terrified
him, although Mamoru refused to let on and said, “Kisho’s with me. We’ll be
there as soon as we can.”
“No” Taro answered, his voice still low and somewhat
subdued, “We won’t be here for much longer. Meet us at the hospital in Minato.”
“Why?” Mamoru forced himself to ask, “What’s happened? Is
Seiichi with you?”
“Just meet us there” Taro answered, refusing to elaborate
further and then hung up. Mamoru slipped his phone back into his pocket before
turning to Kisho.
“He wouldn’t tell me,” Mamoru said, making no secret of
his dread, “He just said that we should go to the hospital in Minato.”
“Then we should go there” Kisho replied, keeping his voice
steady and not letting on any of the concern that Mamoru could see in his eyes.
“We’re not going to find out anything just by standing here.”
Mamoru nodded mutely, ignoring his urge to call Taro back
and demand to know what was going on. It was obvious that his friend couldn’t
talk right now and they would just have to wait until they got to the hospital.
Glancing back at his friend, who was in the process of
calling for a taxi, Mamoru had never felt so powerless and he hated this. A
part of him wanted to get to the hospital as soon as possible and another part
of him was dreading going at all.
******
Act Fifty Seven Preview:
“Masaki?” Taro asked, suddenly unsure and he took a step
towards his friend.
Masaki shook his head, even as Mamoru released Usagi and
went to his side. “Daijobu?” he requested softly.
The younger man raised his head to meet Mamoru’s gaze before drawing back a hand and p