Earth
Guardian Prince Endymion
By Senshi
of Ruin and Mizu no Senshi
Act Sixty One Recap:
(Mamoru’s POV)
“Before you go in, there is something you should know.
Yesterday when Seiichi woke up there was a complication.”
“A complication? He’ll be alright, won’t he?” Usagi asked,
making no secret of the concern that she and Mamoru were both feeling.
“I hope so. He went for several scans and they came back
clear this morning but he’s having trouble remembering things. I am sure that
his confusion is temporary, but please don’t concern yourselves if he doesn’t
recognise you both straight away.”
When Usagi and I went to see Seiichi, but Shina explained
that he was having trouble remembering certain things. This turned out to be a
complete understatement. He doesn’t remember anything about himself, who we
were or the mission.
“You don’t like cake?” Usagi asked in amazement, in
between mouthfuls.
“Not according to in here” Seiichi nodded towards the
magazine, “It says that my favourite dessert is Jonainagashi. It also says that
my favourite colour is white” he laughed softly, “I don’t even know if it’s
correct.”
“What do you remember?” Mamoru asked, unsure of how to
broach the subject of his amnesia, but seeing as Seiichi was volunteering the
information and, from what he had seen already, this was much more than the
simple confusion that Shina appeared to hope it was.
“Not a lot” Seiichi admitted, his voice now taking on a
serious tone, “Nothing before waking up here.”
“Nothing at all?”
He is dealing with his amnesia incredibly well, but I
cannot help but worry about him and what this might mean in the long term. I
suppose I shouldn’t be thinking that far ahead. He might even regain his
memories quickly and everything will work out just fine. Kisho was going to
speak to Masaki so hopefully he can help him to see that everything that
happened wasn’t anything that he had any control over and then perhaps we can
start to get our friendship back on track again. As it is we need everyone who
can fight to fight, especially after Mio’s ultimatum.
“I want you. You can come back to the Dark Kingdom with me
now and this will end. The Shitennou will not suffer anymore.”
Of course I denied her this. I cannot agree to her
demands, not this time. I have also built a life for myself in this world, a
life to spend with Usagi. I know what the Shitennou would have said had they
been there. They would have agreed with me. We all have lives in this world and
intend to do whatever it takes to defend them. No matter how many Youma Mio
threatens to command, we will stand against her. There can be no room for
negotiation, not this time.
******
Act Sixty-Two:
“No”
“Nani?”
“No. I’m not going to throw away the future that I fought
for, not when there is still a chance. Send as many Youma as you can, we’ll all
fight you until we die if necessary.”
“You are making a mistake. I am offering you a chance to
end this war before anyone else gets hurt.”
“No. You care little for who gets hurt as long as you get
your own way and I’m not going to be fooled by you anymore. Leave now, try to
get your revenge; we’ll all be ready.”
“You have made a mistake, Mamoru-kun. A big mistake.”
“Mamoru…” Mio whispered, clutching her dagger tightly in
one hand before thrusting deep into the shoulder of the Youma that knelt before
her. Knowing better than to scream, the beast simply bowed lower, accepting the
punishment that its Queen had handed down to it.
How dare he not accept my offer of peace… does his
meaningless existence with Usagi-chan truly mean that much to him?
Mio did not know. Endymion had always been a bit of a
fool, but she had loved him for it. She had loved him for a thousand years, as
the part of Beryl that had remained when Metallia corrupted the power-hungry
courtier.
“I’m sorry that you’ve suffered, but you are nothing but a
shadow of Beryl’s former existence from the past life. You have no place in
this world and so you try to glorify what you are doing to convince yourself
that you have a purpose when, in actual fact, you have nothing.”
His words… so cruelly spoken wouldn’t have cut her so
deeply had they not been true.
In fury at this recollection, Mio ripped the dagger from
the Youma and hurled it aside before declaring to the beast before her that it
would escape with its life, this time, and promptly commanded that it leave her
chambers.
Leave now, try to get your revenge; we’ll all be ready
“Will you” Mio mused to herself, “Will you truly be
ready?” She smiled coldly as another idea sprang to mind.
“No. I’m not going to throw away the future that I fought
for, not when there is still a chance. Send as many Youma as you can, we’ll all
fight you until we die if necessary.”
“Mamoru-kun, let me see if I cannot change your mind soon
enough.”
******
Minako paused hesitantly outside Seiichi’s room, her hand
poised to knock on the door as she debated doing so or simply turning around
and leaving. Mamoru had explained the situation to her, that had been a few
days ago now and Minako had kept away, wanting to allow Shina and Mamoru-tachi
the short visiting hours that the hospital allowed. However, now Minako felt
that she had kept away for too long and it had hurt her to do so. Although
Seiichi would not remember what little time they had together, she felt that
she had to see him, to see that he was getting better.
Now she was here, however, she was wondering whether or
not it was such a good idea. What could she say to him? Perhaps it would be
better if she just left? No, she didn’t want to do that, Minako decided and the
idol, who was normally so self assured, found herself trembling slightly as she
knocked on the door before opening it and stepping into the room.
Seiichi was in the process of opening some of the get-well
cards that he had received from fans when Minako entered. Looking around the
room, she saw that he had one sackful of these next to the bed and another
three at the back of the room against the wall. Already the mountain of gifts
had stacked up again and Minako couldn’t help but marvel at just how loyal a
fanbase he had.
He looked up as she approached, greeting her with that shy
smile of his that never failed to quicken Minako’s heartbeat and it was the
same this time.
“Aino Minako” he said, coupled with another smile and, for
a moment, Minako dared to think that he might recognise her. This hope was
dashed seconds later when he added softly:
“Usagi-san said that you might be stopping by today.”
“She did” Minako felt more than a little flustered that
Usagi had been talking about her, but took the seat next to the bed and
enquired to know how he was feeling.
“A lot better, thank you. I’m glad you came this morning.
I’m finally getting discharged this afternoon.”
“That soon?” Minako asked in surprise, it had only been a
few days since he had woken up.
“I’m discharging myself. Dr Miura-san is against it, but…”
he hesitated, “I don’t feel as though I’m ever going to get any better here.
Does that make sense to you? I would rather be in my own apartment.”
Minako nodded, “You’re hoping that your memory might start
to return if you are in your own home.”
Seiichi smiled, but didn’t answer her. He didn’t need too.
Minako could understand why he was keen to leave, but she was also a little
concerned that it was too soon. Of course, she reminded herself, it was
Seiichi’s decision and if Dr Miura really had serious concerns then Minako was
sure that Seiichi would listen to her.
Sensing this, he added that he had been given some strong
painkillers as his head still ached badly at times and that Shina was going to
stay with him for a while.
Deciding to change the subject to a lighter one, Minako
commented on the number of cards that were on the cabinet beside his bed.
“They’re from friends and family” Seiichi replied, “I have
no idea what I’m going to do with these” he indicated the stacks of cards that
we set on the bed beside him, “I’d feel terrible about throwing them out as
Tetsuya-san suggested” he laughed softly, “Although it will take me hours to
open and read them all.”
Minako smiled brightly, “Why don’t we open some together?
It would be quicker that way.”
“I would like that” Seiichi replied as he handed her a
bundle of the cards.
As they opened them, and in between Minako reading the
messages in hers out to him, she told him things about herself and her friends,
just small things and she mentioned nothing of the past life or the mission as
Mamoru had deemed that it was not a subject that they should approach Seiichi
with as of yet.
Seiichi seemed to enjoy this talk, although he mostly
listened to what Minako had to say, as he still got tired pretty quickly.
Minako was careful not to mention her feelings for him or the moments they had
shared before his attack. As much as it pained her to do this, Minako felt that
Seiichi had enough to deal with at the moment without having to question his
feelings for her as well. It wouldn’t be fair of Minako to expect him to and,
deep down, she hoped that these feelings would emerge again with time and then,
perhaps, they could be together.
Finally, Minako glanced at her watch and saw, with some
disappointment, that she would have to go soon. There was a meeting with the
others in Crown to discuss the mission in half an hour.
Explaining that she had another commitment, her heart
leapt when Seiichi told her that she was quite welcome to come and see him at
his apartment later on. Minako replied that she would like that a lot, trying
not to let on just how much this alone meant to her.
“Take care,” she said as she stood up, and then adding
softly, “I think you’re coping with things remarkably well, Seiichi.”
“Do you want to know the truth?” Seiichi said to this, his
voice wavering a little as he spoke, “I’m terrified.”
Minako reached out automatically to draw him into an
embrace but then thought better of it and instead she placed a hand on his
shoulder and said quietly, “I know, but I’m sure that your memory will come
back given time. You just have to be patient. Please try not to worry. We’ll
all help you to get through this.”
“Thank you” Seiichi replied gratefully, but Minako could
still see just how upset and frightened he really was. She would do anything to
take away this pain, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t do anything but be there
for him, whilst keeping a lid on her own feelings.
Stepping back from the bed, she again stated softly that
she really had to go. Seiichi admitted that he was a little tired anyway and
would probably sleep for a while.
As Minako turned to leave the room she cast a quick glance
at Artemis who was lying on the floor between two of the sacks of fan mail. He
nodded slightly to show that he understood and would stay with Seiichi until he
went home. This made Minako feel marginally better, but she couldn’t help but
feel that she should be here with him.
He has his family… he has Mamoru-tachi… what we had
perhaps, with time, it will return, but until then she knew that she would have
to keep her feelings guarded. After all it wasn’t fair to expect things to be
any other way, not for a while at least.
******
“The Tokei-ji shrine” Mamoru repeated quietly as Ami
handed him the information that she had printed off from the web regarding the
shrine. Mamoru stared intently at the photograph of the sword hoping that this
would trigger some kind of memory, but there was nothing. Sighing he passed the
papers on to Kisho who looked through them for a few moments before, rather
grudgingly, handed them to Makoto.
“I found the information several days ago” Ami continued,
“But, due to everything that has happened, we felt it best to wait for things
to calm down a bit first.”
“No one can remove it from the stone, but it would be best
to make a move for it as soon as possible.” Makoto added to this.
Mamoru knew why they had held off doing anything. Ami
still didn’t look that well and Taro had confided to him that they were both
finding the loss difficult and Ami often cried at night. This made Mamoru even
more determined to win this war as quickly as possible.
“What are you proposing to do?” Kisho asked of the girls,
breaking Mamoru’s chain of thought.
“We need to get that sword” Makoto answered, “And as soon
as possible.”
“We’re going to Kamakura. Tonight” Rei added.
“Tonight?” Mamoru repeated, “That soon?”
“We have no choice” Rei replied, clearly even shocking the
other girls. Save for Ami, Mamoru doubted that they knew anything about it.
Minako looked distinctly uncomfortable with the idea, but would not say
anything Mamoru knew.
Taro, however, made his feelings clear, “It’s too soon.
Ami, you’ve barely recovered. If Mio is looking for the sword then it could be
dangerous.”
“Which is why we need to go as soon as possible. I dread
to think what would happen if she found the sword first” Ami answered him gently.
“Then I’m coming with you”
“No” Minako shook her head, “You can’t. If there is a
Youma attack… We need you to stay and defend Tokyo in our absence.”
“And who will defend you?”
“I will” Usagi said softly.
Mamoru didn’t like it. He didn’t like the thought of them
risking their lives. They should all go to Kamakura he knew, but if they did
then who would defend Tokyo?
“You are making a mistake. I am offering you a chance to
end this war before anyone else gets hurt.”
Mamoru shook his head, “No. You care little for who gets
hurt as long as you get your own way and I’m not going to be fooled by you
anymore. Leave now, try to get your revenge; we’ll all be ready.”
Mio scowled, her look darkening until Mamoru could
literally feel the hatred radiating from the girl, but this hatred was not
directed at him, rather it was for Usagi and his friends.
“You have made a mistake, Mamoru-kun,” she said as she
teleported away leaving a showering of black petals in her wake, “A big
mistake.”
Mio would attack again. They had to be ready. They needed
the Senshi, too. Mamoru knew, as much as he hated it, that they would have to
stay and defend their home.
“Be careful,” he said to Usagi.
“You’re going to let them go?” Taro demanded, “It is too
dangerous!”
“They cannot be trusted” Kisho added coldly, “They
betrayed us once before.”
“We won’t betray you” Minako snapped hotly, “It is not
possible Not in this world.”
“Mio came to see me,” Mamoru said, trying to dispel the
tension that had built up among them again, “She offered me a chance to end
this war. She offered me a choice. I could go with her and this would all be
over. If I didn’t then her revenge would continue. I chose to stay here, to
fight for the lives that we now have. The former Senshi are the same as us.
They also want to fight for the lives that they earned when reborn under the
Ginzuishou’s grace. Do you really think that they would jeopardise that?”
Kisho scowled, not convinced by this, but not saying
anymore on the subject.
“We would never jeopardise the lives that we have now,”
Minako said to this, speaking for all the Senshi, “And we would not dishonour
Queen Serenity by throwing away this second chance.”
Usagi smiled and this and gave Minako a hug. Mamoru knew
that Usagi deeply wanted to have her guardians fighting alongside her once
again. It had meant such a lot to both the Prince and Princess in the past life
and, although they were reborn, Mamoru could still feel this connection. He
would always fight with the Shitennou at his side; he would have this no other
way.
“So we are decided” Rei spoke, “We will go to Kamakura,
the five of us and get the sword.”
One by one the girls nodded and Usagi hugged each one in
turn. Mamoru glanced at Taro, still feeling concerned for their safety, but
knowing that he had to trust in Usagi’s powers and that they could do this. If
they all left Tokyo now then they would be handing the city to Mio on a silver
platter. There was no real choice to make.
“We’re going to take the Tokyu Toyoko line from Shibuya
station tonight” Ami said, “I’ve already worked out a route to the temple. We
can stay overnight in a hotel and make our way back in the morning.”
“We’ll get the sword and leave” Makoto added, “The only
dangerous part will be before we get the sword and, don’t forget, Mio does not
yet know where the sword is.”
Mamoru nodded, still a little doubtful that it would be
that easy but he was prepared to give them a chance and he wished that Kisho
was, too.
Keen to set out, the girls decided to make a move. There
was nothing much more to discuss, Mamoru reasoned and there was train tickets
and a hotel to organise. Taro, now resigned to the fact that Ami was going, had
agreed to go to the station with her whilst Rei and Makoto sorted out a hotel.
Usagi was going home to pack a few things as was Minako and the other girls
were going to meet them both at the station.
As they started to gather their things together, Mamoru
caught Kisho’s arm and drew him aside.
“They betrayed us once before.”
“Give them a chance. Please. You were willing to accept
them in their civilian forms. What has changed now?”
“Nothing has changed.”
“Yes it has. Are you bitter because they have the chance
to transform and you don’t?”
Kisho scowled, “Of course not. I do not need to transform
to fight. I just think that they do not tell us things.”
“Like what?” Mamoru followed Kisho’s gaze and it lingered
in Hino Rei. “What is it?”
“I told you, it is nothing.”
“Now who’s keeping secrets.”
Kisho sighed, “I went to her. I thought she might be able
to help restore my transformation. She has visions, as you know, and I saw one
of these visions. The city will burn. That is what she saw. Mio will burn Tokyo
to the ground.”
“No” Mamoru shook his head, “That isn’t possible. They
would have told us.”
“So you doubt me?”
“No, of course not!”
“The city will burn” Kisho repeated, “And we had a right
to know that.”
Mamoru did not answer him. It couldn’t be… Rei’s visions
were accurate but in this case it had to be wrong. To think that all they were
doing would be for nothing. Mamoru couldn’t accept it.
“We won’t speak of this again,” he said, making his decision,
“Visions, even Rei’s, can be wrong. I don’t want the others lose hope. We’ll
keep this between ourselves.”
It was obvious that Kisho did not agree with his decision
and Mamoru was steeling himself for a confrontation when the meeting room door
opened. The girls’ excited chattering died and Mamoru looked up, unable to hide
his surprise when the young man carefully shut the door behind him and stepped
fully into the room.
“Masaki?” Mamoru started but his friend silently shook his
head before saying:
“I’ve made my decision.”
******
“But she used this. She knew my every fear and doubt and
used this… but I let myself be used. Time and time again I allow this… I just
don’t know. I just can’t shake these feelings. These feelings of anger, hurt,
of being used.”
“Then perhaps she’s right. Perhaps you did betray us.
Perhaps you wanted to hurt Seiichi. Perhaps you shouldn’t fight anymore.”
“Is that how you feel? Is that what you want?”
“What do you want?”
When Kisho had come to Masaki’s apartment, his first set
of emotions had been of indignant anger that Mamoru couldn’t find it in himself
to come in person. Masaki had allowed this anger to close his mind to what
Kisho was actually saying, finding it easier to retreat behind a cloud of smoke
and misery, whilst keeping himself aloof from the situation and any pain that
it might cause.
Since Mio had visited him, Masaki had constantly been
replaying the conversation over and over in his mind and had fast come to the
conclusion that, in several aspects, she was right.
He had betrayed Mamoru-tachi. No matter how many different
angles he looked at it from by choosing to stay angry at them for what happened
to him, for what the Princess did to him, Masaki had betrayed them. Yet this
betrayal had only meant to go so far. He hadn’t wanted to kill them, not at the
end. He had wanted to leave the Dark Kingdom. He had even cried out for them at
the end.
“Well you and I know who attacked Seiichi-kun, but it was
you who Taro found with him. You didn’t even try to help him. You left him
there to die.”
She only spoke a half-truth. Masaki knew that Mamoru-tachi
wouldn’t have suspected him of what Mio did to Seiichi. If they had then Kisho
would have accused him openly. However, Masaki had left his friend. He had
allowed his memories to overwhelm him instead of calling for help. It had been
a good ten minutes at least before Taro had arrived.
“It’s too late to go back.”
“True, but when I saw you that last time, when Metallia
had claimed your body for her own, do you know how I felt? What I saw?”
Masaki, despairing, had decided that they only thing to do
would be to cut himself off from Mamoru-tachi, to continue with his own life.
He had no desire to fight. He had no desire to continue their friendship when
he had all of these conflicting and painful feelings inside of him.
“I knew that we couldn’t save you. That we were too late.
I looked into your eyes and I knew that there was nothing left of the man who
had become my friend. You were Metallia through and through. You had died the
moment that she was infused inside of you. Think back and you will know that I
speak the truth. You didn’t kill Seiichi or Mamoru. How could you when you were
already dead?”
Then Kisho had forced him to look beneath the surface of
the memories. To see the true intention behind them.
“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.
As terrible as the memories were, he had forced himself to
continue to go over them and Masaki began to realise that the thoughts that
were going through his head as his friend died. They were not thoughts that he
could have had, even when he was ready to betray them.
He had died, Masaki knew. He had died and something
terrible had taken his form, but it didn’t account for what he did before.
“I still have those memories, those memories of what I
did.”
“So do I. And I forgave you. Why can’t you forgive
yourself?”
“I can’t”
“Mio gave you back those memories for a reason,”
She had, Masaki knew and, when Kisho left, he began to see
just how foolish his anger had been. Mamoru-tachi were trying to protect him
from the truth, a truth that they couldn’t explain to him for fear of what
might happen.
What were four years ago for them was only a few days for
him, Masaki knew. They had four years to forgive and he had only a few days.
They couldn’t expect him to forgive himself in that short space of time, but
Masaki now knew that he could live with it.
That was why he was at Crown now. He had intended on
telling Mamoru as, whereas he could live with what happened, he couldn’t fight
with them. He was too afraid that what happened might repeat and he had been
intent on telling them this when he had paused outside the meeting room door to
hear their conversation:
“Mio came to see me. She offered me a chance to end this
war. She offered me a choice. I could go with her and this would all be over.
If I didn’t then her revenge would continue. I chose to stay here, to fight for
the lives that we now have.”
This had struck a chord deep inside of him and Masaki
found that, despite his resolution, when it came to standing before
Mamoru-tachi and the girls and stating softly:
“I’ve made my decision.”
He couldn’t tell them that he no longer wanted to fight.
How could he when, once again his friends were prepared to sacrifice everything
they had for the mission. Mamoru could have ended the war and yet he chose to
fight. He chose to decline Mio’s proposition and risk dying at her hand. Masaki
found that he couldn’t continue a normal life, not when his friends were
suffering. What good would his decision do him if they lost? The planet would
die, but Masaki would die long before that. Mio hated him and her hatred was
poison. She would kill them all regardless and she had the capability to do so.
This way, perhaps, Masaki could atone for what he did as
well as show her that he would not be used anymore.
“I’ve made my decision,” he said again, suddenly feeling a
little self-conscious but determined at the same time, “I’m going to fight. I’m
not going to let Mio win. What happened… what I did… it is in the past. It will
be difficult for me to accept what has happened if I don’t.”
“I’m glad” Mamoru smiled.
“We all are” Taro smirked and elbowed Mamoru in the side,
“Because with him leading us we’re going to need all the help we can get.”
“Oi” Mamoru chuckled good-naturedly.
Masaki shook his head, thinking how things hadn’t changed.
Glancing up at Kisho, the older man gave him a small smile before quietly
slipping out the door whilst Taro and Mamoru were still involved in their
friendly banter and Masaki watched, just glad to feel accepted once again.
******
Shibuya Station was busy at the best of times and in the
early evening rush hour it was unbearable. Finally, after queuing for twenty
minutes, Taro managed to get the tickets from one of the ticket machines and
hurry back to Ami’s side. Silently he gave her the tickets, whilst still
showing her some concern.
Ami smiled and slipped the tickets into her purse whilst
murmuring ‘thank you’. Even though Taro would be the first to admit that he was
deeply troubled at the thought of Ami going off to Kamakura so soon after her
miscarriage and even more so that she would become Sailor Mercury once again
and fight, he knew that Mamoru was right. They needed the Senshi and Ami needed
to be able to defend herself.
Upon seeing that Nephrite was free, Ami made to run, but
the Youma leapt in front of her, drawing a fist back and striking her round the
face. Ami shrieked and fell down onto the concrete as Nephrite reached them,
his sword now back in hand.
Had she been able to henshin then she never would have
gotten hurt.
Checking the time to avoid dwelling upon such thoughts any
longer, Taro saw that they had an hour and a half before the train. Ami had
just received a text from Makoto to inform her that the hotel had been booked
so there was time enough for them to go home and for Ami to pack a few things.
Taro was glad of this as it meant that he could spend a little bit of time with
her before she went. Of course he knew that he was being a little
overprotective, but Ami still seemed to pale and withdrawn. They were both
still suffering.
“Please don’t worry about me,” Ami said softly when she
saw the slight frown on his face.
“I’m not” Taro answered her, a little quickly and he
didn’t sound convincing to his own ears let alone Ami. “I just wish… I just
wish I could go with you, to protect you.”
“We’ll have Usagi-chan” Ami forced a smile, “Nothing will
happen.”
“I know” Taro sighed, “I do worry about you, Ami.”
She reached up and wrapped her arms around him, “Nothing
will happen” Ami repeated softly, “And when this is all over with, we can go
away together. Just the two of us.”
Taro nodded, still apprehensive but the other girls were
right. Mio did not know where the sword was so she would not pose any threat to
them. It would simply be a case of them obtaining the sword. That in itself would
be no easy task, Taro reminded himself and said as much to Ami.
“I know” she gave him another smile, “Minako-chan said
that she would try to work something out.”
“And the sword was meant for you. All of you” Taro added
thoughtfully, “Perhaps only the former Senshi can free it?”
Ami nodded, having already thought of this, but Taro still
couldn’t help but recall what Ami had said before. That Minako had explained
that it was a gift and could not be obtained that easily.
******
“The Senshi Sword” Mio repeated, feeling her blood run
cold at her servant’s words. The Youma trembled as her hands dug into the stop
of its skull. They had thought that she knew nothing of the whereabouts of the
sword, but they forgot that she had Youma also looking for it. The former
Senshi had now also discovered its whereabouts. Time was fast running out, Mio
knew as she weighed up her options. She could attack the girls now, order her
Youma to kill them before they had a chance to set out for Kita Kamakura, but
that would present more problems. Should she decide on this route then the
Tennou and Mamoru would protect them. Her Youma might be lucky enough to kill
at least two of them but then they would all journey to Kamakura. No, it was
better to allow them to think that she knew nothing of their objectives this
time. The girls would journey to Kamakura and Mio’s servants would be waiting.
The Youma would be able to kill them easily enough, even with Usagi-chan’s
presence.
Of course, Mio knew that to do nothing now would also be a
foolhardy move. The Tennou and Mamoru had to think that her focus was still on
Tokyo.
“Will you” Mio mused to herself, “Will you truly be
ready?” She smiled coldly as another idea sprang to mind.
“Mamoru-kun, let me see if I cannot change your mind soon
enough.”
It was time that she showed him what would happen when he
refused her. The Shitennou were strong, despite her newfound powers, and Mio
had no desire to waste her energy on fighting the two who could defend
themselves. To squander her powers would be foolish, but there were two of them
who could not fight, who would not pose serious threat to her Youma. Granted
that fool Kunzite thought that he could fight without his powers, but Mio intended
to show him that he was wrong.
Although Mio had no desire to cause Mamoru pain, he had to
learn what denying her would entail and how his Tennou would continue to suffer
for it.
******
“Give them a chance. Please. You were willing to accept
them in their civilian forms. What has changed now?”
“Nothing has changed.”
“Yes it has. Are you bitter because they have the chance
to transform and you don’t?”
Kisho scowled, “Of course not. I do not need to transform
to fight. I just think that they do not tell us things.”
“Like what?” Mamoru followed Kisho’s gaze and it lingered
in Hino Rei. “What is it?”
“I told you, it is nothing.”
“Now who’s keeping secrets.”
Kisho sighed, “I went to her. I thought she might be able
to help restore my transformation. She has visions, as you know, and I saw one
of these visions. The city will burn. That is what she saw. Mio will burn Tokyo
to the ground.”
“No” Mamoru shook his head, “That isn’t possible. They
would have told us.”
“So you doubt me?”
“No, of course not!”
“The city will burn” Kisho repeated, “And we had a right
to know that.”
Mamoru walked down the forest path, replaying his
conversation with Kisho over and over. The meeting had more or less broken up
with Masaki’s entrance and the girls have left to make the preparations for the
trip to Kamakura. Still a little uncomfortable about letting Usagi go, Mamoru
had tried to tell himself that nothing would happen. He knew that Taro also
felt apprehensive and concerned about Ami, but Mamoru resolved to stand by his
decision. He and the Tennou could not accompany them, to do so would prove to
be a foolish move, he was sure.
Mamoru was also a little annoyed to find that Kisho had
left without saying a word to him.
“We won’t speak of this again. Visions, even Rei’s, can be
wrong. I don’t want the others lose hope. We’ll keep this between ourselves.”
Despite this, Mamoru wasn’t sure that Kisho would keep it
to himself, hence his reasoning for going to see his friend now. There could be
no discord between them.
He was also tired of the conflict. They had enough to
concern themselves with Mio without arguing among themselves. Mamoru had always
valued Kisho’s opinion and advice and it saddened him to think that they would
never see eye to eye completely where the mission was concerned.
Still, as he walked down the pathway towards Kisho’s home,
Mamoru found that the walk was relaxing and could well understand why Kisho
chose to live out here rather than in the city. Even the roar of the traffic
had faded and the air was cleaner. Everything was so peaceful. It was ironic
that, not twenty seconds after he had processed this thought, that peace was
shattered.
Mamoru jumped when a crash tore through the stillness of
the landscape. A couple of woodpigeons took flight at this noise and his heart
started to race as he instinctively knew that somehow Kisho was involved.
Breaking into a run, Mamoru tore down the path, his heart
hammering wildly in his chest as fear gripped at his soul as he recalled Mio’s
words.
“You have made a mistake, Mamoru-kun. A big mistake.”
At the time, Mamoru had felt as though he had made the
right decision and he still did, but if Kisho was…
Pushing through some closely-knit trees, Mamoru found
himself at the Tamura residence. Mamoru could see that the front window had
been completely shattered and the door was kicked in, the hinges buckled.
Running towards the house, Mamoru gave no thought to his
own safety and he forced his way passed the remains of the door and into the
room.
Glancing wildly round the front room, he saw that the sofa
lay overturned, the door connecting the front room and the kitchen was in a
similar state to the front door and the bookcase had been destroyed. A fire
burned in the adjourning kitchen and smoke alarms rang loudly in his ears.
Kisho stood poised by the hole where the kitchen door had once been, a samurai
style sword clutched tightly in his right hand. He was bleeding from a small
gash above his left temple, blood running down the side of his face to stain
the collar of his jacket. He was breathing heavily, his eyes widening when he
saw Mamoru.
“Behind you!” he shouted and Mamoru whirled around and
leapt backwards, just quick enough to save himself from being impaled on the
end of the Youma’s sword.
Stumbling over the sofa, Mamoru saw with horror that the
Youma turned its attention back to Kisho. There was a loud clash as the two
swords met, Kisho successfully parrying and then striking, cutting the Youma a
little above the shoulder.
Concentrating on his own transformation, Mamoru drew his
sword, bringing it down on the unprotected back of the beast, or rather that
was what he intended to do. At the last moment the Youma twisted to one side,
out of his reach.
Kisho darted forward, blocking the blow that would have
connected squarely with Endymion’s jaw with his own shoulder, wincing slightly
as blood welled up around this new wound.
Again, Endymion attempted to ward off the Youma’s next
attack, but Kisho again stepped in front of him, parrying before forcing the
Youma back, whilst also snarling at Endymion:
“Get out of here!”
Endymion couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Had the man
gone completely mad? Ignoring Kisho’s request, he again attempted to fight but
Kisho refused to give him any opening. Was he trying to prove some sort of
point? Endymion wondered to himself. Kisho always had a reckless streak but
this was taking it a little too far.
“Get out of here” Kisho ordered again, keeping the Youma
back from the door with a well-placed strike.
“No” Endymion snapped, “I’m not going to leave you to
fight alone. I don’t care if you’re trying to prove a point, you can’t
transform!”
“You baka! Do you think I am that foolish?”
“It wouldn’t be the first time” Endymion shot back hotly.
Again the Youma lunged forward and Kisho blocked its
attack before cutting it across the chest and forcing it to retreat once more,
“There were three more” he snapped, “I killed one, but the other two left.”
“Let me help you kill this one and we can go after the
others.”
“No. You have to go. Now.”
“Why?”
“Think about it? Why are they attacking me?”
“Because you can’t transform.”
“Exactly. Where do you think the other two have gone?”
“Kami-sama” Endymion whispered. Seiichi couldn’t fight… he
wouldn’t even know how to transform, that he could transform…
“You have made a mistake, Mamoru-kun. A big mistake.”
This was Mio’s way of getting back at him…
“Go!” Kisho shouted, “I can look after myself; he can’t.”
Kisho was right, Endymion knew, but it didn’t make leaving
any the easier. Finally, he managed to tear himself from the scene,
de-transforming for the race across town and grabbing hold of his phone,
desperately calling up Taro’s number.
“Kuso” Mamoru whispered when it went straight to
voice mail. It was a good twenty minutes at least to Seiichi’s apartment and if
he didn’t get there in time…
“You have made a mistake, Mamoru-kun. A big mistake.”
His decision, despite it being the right one, could well
again cost him the lives of his friends.
******
Act Sixty Three Preview:
“Zoisite?”
“You know me this way?”
Mamoru nodded slowly, never taking his eyes off of him.
“Then” Seiichi took a breath, “Then you can explain?”
~~~~~~
“I’ll be fine. We all will be” Usagi smiled and wrapped
her arms around him, “And once minna have their henshins back we can end this
and go back to living our normal lives.”
Mamoru nodded, still unconvinced that it would be as easy
as Usagi seemed to think it would be.
“The only dangerous part will be before we get the sword
and, don’t forget, Mio does not yet know where the sword is.”
Mio mustn’t suspect their absence, Mamoru knew. If she knew
that Usagi-tachi had gone after the sword then the mission would become very
dangerous for them. He, and the Tennou, would have to do everything that they
could to ensure that Mio did not find out the location of the sword and that
the girls had gone to get it.
~~~~~~
“Are you okay?” Kisho couldn’t help but laugh softly as
Mamoru greeted him with this question.
“I’m fine.”
“And the Youma.”
“It’s not so fine.”
Mamoru managed a small chuckle, “I’m glad.”
“Is Seiichi okay?”
There was a pause and then, “He’s fine.”
~~~~~~
“You bitch” Nephrite shouted at this, “I’ll kill you for
that.”
Mio giggled and shook her head, “Please. Don’t. You are so
much more useful alive, but… perhaps I could kill one of you, just to emphasize
how serious my intentions are.”
“Why you--” Nephrite started again, but Endymion snapped
at him to be quiet before turning to Mio and asking softly:
“The same thing I wanted last time. You.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Your precious Shitennou die.”