Earth
Guardian Prince Endymion
By Senshi
of Ruin and Mizu no Senshi
Act Nine Recap:
(Mamoru’s POV)
I thought advertising the Ginzuishou to the media would be
a good idea and it might help us find it and the Prince quicker.
“I thought it would be a good idea. If more people were
looking for it… I was desperate!”
“And the five million Yen?”
“I didn’t say anything about a reward or a Ginzuishou
‘expert’. I don’t know where they got that from!”
I was wrong. The Dark Kingdom was using the Ginzuishou
expert as a trap to lure us to his mansion.
“I am the Senshi of vanity and unrequited love, Dark
Venus. I hear you’ve been giving my friends Mercury and Mars quite a hard time
between the lot of you. I really don’t understand why. My Youma easily
overpowered this one” she nodded to Kunzite. “Now, if the
pair of you don’t drop your weapons then my Youma will kill him.”
Taro’s quick thinking saved the day, but it has just
served to make Kisho more resentful of him.
Kisho frowned angrily and practically ran from the room.
Nephrite laughed at this, “A thank you would have been
nice!” he called after him.
Sailor Moon was also lured into the trap, but got into
some trouble of her own.
“Ano…” he grunted, a smirk twisted his lips as a hand
reached out to her one that was still clutched around his wrist.
“Eh?” Usagi blinked, unable to believe her eyes when
Tuxedo Kamen, with one quick movement, ripped off his mask! He then proceeded
to pull of his right glove before a fine fingered hand moved to Usagi’s own
hand and pulled the glove down before rubbing against the bare skin of her
wrist almost teasingly.
“Hentai!” she screamed.
Again I saved her but we fight for different sides. I know
one day I will have to fight her myself and I am dreading it. There is
something special about her, but I can’t think of that now. The enemy are now
after the Prince. Time is running out. We have to find him before Dark Venus
does, but we don’t even know where he is!
*****
Act Ten:
“Before the daybreak
Two people and you are
Discovering”
“Venus! Your plan failed” Dark Mars smirked as she walked
towards the Senshi. Venus, as always, was seated on her stool by the window,
her face radiating the calm that the Senshi of Fire envied so. “The kings still
live and you are no nearer to finding the Prince.”
Venus stood, brushing a strand of her blonde hair over a
shoulder as she stepped up to Mars, “That is where you are wrong.”
“What?”
Venus smirked and held out some sheets of paper, “I have
finished my song. I’ll use this to find the Prince and earn Beryl-sama’s
respect. She won’t tolerate failures like you, Mars.”
“And what makes you think that you will succeed?”
“The kings have an advantage over us that they too know of
the Ginzuishou, right? Well they know nothing of the Prince. We are on equal ground
and this time” her expression darkened, “This time I won’t loose.”
****
“So, Venus thinks that she can find the Prince” Beryl
murmured, more to herself than the blue haired Senshi who knelt before her.
This knowledge caused the Queen’s heart to ache. Again her thoughts turned to
what he must be like and what Beryl had been prepared to give up before because
of him. She had lost everything and had been sentenced to be sealed inside the
Earth for a thousand years. Now things were different. Whatever force had
interfered with her before would not do so again. Beryl would make the Prince
hers this time.
Still there was a danger. If the kings learned of the
Prince’s identity then they would protect him and Beryl knew that they had
thwarted her Senshi on many occasions. The Ginzuishou was important, but
Beryl’s own goal came first.
“Mercury” she ordered the Senshi of water, “Summon Dark
Venus. I wish to hear her song for myself.”
****
“So he just walked away?” Mamoru questioned quietly, his
gaze darting every so often to the closed bedroom door. It was early in the
morning, but as Mamoru hadn’t seen the others since yesterday and was eager to
learn what had happened at the Izono mansion he had got up before Hina to call
Taro. He was now regretting this, as it appeared that his friend was not a
morning person on a good day and did not thank Mamoru for waking him up at
5.30am. Also, from what Taro said, it appeared that yesterday had been a
complete disaster. Kisho had nearly been killed and now the rift between him
and Taro had grown even bigger.
Mamoru had been loath to get involved, but as the leader
it was something that he might not have any choice in the matter. But if Kisho
was hurt…
“Did anyone follow him to make sure he was alright?”
Mamoru asked.
“No. Why should we? He behaved completely irresponsibly
and I didn’t even get a thank you for saving his life!” was the reply.
“What if he was badly hurt?” Mamoru said sensibly.
Taro was silent for a few moments, “I didn’t think about
that” he admitted, “Do you want me to check on him?”
“No” Mamoru decided, there would only be another argument
if Taro went, “I’ll go.”
“Ok” Taro agreed and then added, “I’m sorry.”
Mamoru wasn’t sure how to respond to this and chose to ignore
the apology, “We’ll meet in Crown this afternoon was usual. From what you said,
this new enemy really means business.”
“They do” Taro replied uneasily, “She would have killed
him.”
Evidently his encounter with Dark Venus had rattled him
more than he let on.
“What do you expect?” Mamoru said, a little unkindly,
“This is war. We’ll meet at Crown.”
He hung up, suddenly feeling frustrated and annoyed with
all of them.
Still those dreams plagued him and even during the day
Mamoru could hear the plaintive voice of the Princess begging him to find the
Ginzuishou. A part of him, the selfish part, wanted to find the Prince as soon
as possible so that he might hand over leadership to him. Perhaps then the
dreams would stop. Mamoru sighed. He hated this… even now. He still yearned for
the life he had left behind when he had walked into Crown that day a month ago.
“Mamoru-kun?” he turned when he saw Hina standing in the
doorframe. Her face was flushed and she gripped the door handle rather
unsteadily.
“What are you doing up?” Mamoru asked, snapping slightly
as Hina withdrew against the door and lowered her gaze.
“I heard you talking.”
“Just a friend. I was arranging to meet with him later
on.”
“Oh…” she bit her lip, “I thought we were going to see my
parents today? They are over from England on a visit” she reminded him, “Did
you forget?”
Mamoru did not want to admit that he had, but was torn. He
loved Hina and didn’t want her to feel as though he was neglecting her, but he
didn’t want Kisho to think any the less of him for not making sure that he was
ok.
Then the idea came to him and Mamoru smiled and assured
Hina that they would go to see her parents as planned.
Mamoru picked up the telephone, wondering why he hadn’t
thought of this before.
****
“Always, always so this is love,
I won’t show these tears,
New love is possible,
Seeing Venus”
Dark Venus finished her song and knelt down before the
Queen, awaiting her reaction with baited breath. On either side of her Mars and
Mercury also knelt giving nothing away as they too waited Beryl’s response.
“Did you write that especially?” Beryl enquired at last.
Venus nodded, “I’ve been working on it for weeks.”
“And how does it work?”
“There is a subliminal message hidden inside the words.
Any Prince who hears my song will be affected by it and will become ill.”
“I want you to find the Prince, not kill him!”
Mercury and Mars sniggered at her reprimand, though Venus
simply replied:
“It won’t kill him, my Queen” she assured Beryl, “It will
enable me to eliminate possible Prince’s and help me to track down the right
one. There are lots of human males in Tokyo alone. How else can I be expected
to find your Prince?”
Beryl liked the term ‘your Prince’ and allowed Venus to
continue.
“You don’t expect the Prince to be actual royalty, do you?
He will be a civilian like the others. My song is designed to make all Princes
ill and I will only go after normal human males. If one is the Prince he will
be forced to transform into his true self to save himself. Then I shall capture
him.”
Beryl nodded, “But your song cannot reach too many people
at once. How do you propose to get around that?”
“My Youma has taken over the local radio station. My song
will be broadcast twenty four hours a day.”
“Sounds like a bit of an overkill” Mars muttered angrily.
Venus smiled sweetly, “It’ll be worth it when I capture
the Prince and kill the enemy. I had one of them before don’t forget. They are
not invincible.”
“And he escaped” Mars retorted, “Fool.”
“Enough!” Beryl barked out, “Venus you will continue with
the plan. Mars, Mercury, I suggest that you both try to redeem yourselves.
There is still the matter of the Ginzuishou and energy. Leave the Prince and
the kings to Venus for now.”
Chastened, the two Senshi bowed and then hurried from the
throne room. Beryl stared at Venus for a while before dismissing her also. The
most dependable of her Senshi. If anyone could capture the Prince then she
could…
The Prince… he was so close… but why did Beryl feel as
though she was heading for a bitter disappointment?
*****
Masaki frowned to himself as he paused outside the address
that Mamoru had given him. When his friend had called him out of the blue at
quarter to six in the morning, Haru had not been best pleased and it had taken
Masaki a good half an hour to calm his father and almost as long for him to
decide that leaving Haru and Tori alone together was a good idea. Haru was so
unpredictable at the moment and Masaki was terrified at what he might do if
left alone with Tori for too long. For this reason he was standing outside
Kisho’s apartment at 7.30 praying that the man would be awake and feeling
better so that Masaki could call Mamoru and report that all was well and then
go home.
He knocked on the door for the forth time and heard noise
from within. There was a television or something on in the background so it
meant that he had not disturbed Kisho or at least Masaki hoped he hadn’t.
It was Kisho that answered the door, dressed in a pair of
white jeans and a black jumper. Masaki noted the bruising that encircled his
neck and the tiredness in his eyes. Apart from this he appeared to be ok, only
a little surprised to see Masaki alone.
“Mamoru asked me to see if you were alright,” he said
after the formalities.
Kisho smirked slightly, “At least you have the courage to
admit to not coming off your own back. I respect that. Come in.”
Masaki hesitated slightly as Kisho held the door open for
him to enter. He did not hate the man like Taro did, but he wasn’t overly fond
of him either. Masaki was a little wary of him. He did not trust people easily
and Kisho didn’t exactly make it easy for him to do so.
“Tea?” Kisho gestured to the steaming kettle on the
counter as they entered the small apartment. He nodded, briefly wondering if
the older man had been expecting him.
After pouring the aforementioned tea and handing a bowl to
Masaki, Kisho pulled the kitchen door shut and leaned casually back against the
counter.
“So?” he prompted.
“I told you. Mamoru-kun asked me to see if you were ok.
Are you?”
Kisho hesitated slightly and one hand unconsciously rubbed
at his sore throat, “I will be,” he allowed at last. “I suppose you are also
here to tell me that I shouldn’t have gone in alone.”
Masaki shrugged, “Why would I do that?”
Kisho smiled, “Of course, I forgot you don’t like to tell
others what you are thinking.”
Masaki met his gaze, “You read people well.”
“I have to. I also know that you wouldn’t have come here
did you not also feel some concern.”
Masaki was too shocked to reply straight away. He had
thought that he had hid his emotions well. It would seem that Taro was wrong to
jump to conclusions where Kisho was concerned. Of course he was a little
arrogant and headstrong, but was that necessarily a bad thing? To a certain
extent Mamoru lacked the ferocity and forwardness that they needed in their
leader. Kisho’s personality would compliment Mamoru’s leadership skills, not
take anything away from them as Taro thought.
“I was a little concerned” Masaki admitted coolly before
taking a sip of his tea. “Especially when you de-transformed.”
Kisho laughed softly, “You do know that maintaining the
transformation takes high levels of concentration? No? Perhaps you are not
aware of it? Well, it does whether you consciously realise it or not. I was
forced to keep the transformation going whilst the Youma had me or it would
have found out who I really was.”
“I was knocked unconscious and nothing happened.” Masaki
reminded him.
Kisho shrugged, “Only for a couple of seconds from what
Mamoru told me. We must all be careful not to de-transform in front of the
enemy.”
Masaki was in agreement to this, but was suddenly
agitated. He thought back to Haru’s violence and made an excuse to leave.
Kisho didn’t seem to mind and pointed out that he had a
class in a while and should get ready for it.
He opened the kitchen door and they went through into the
front room. Kisho’s little sister was watching the television. Masaki happened
to glance at the programme as they brushed passed and it caused him to halt.
“The heir to the Diamond Kingdom, Prince Thaia, has been
rushed to hospital after collapsing at home” the news presenter announced.
“Prince Thaia is the third Prince to fall ill with symptoms varying from
dizziness, sickness, or headaches. Even the country’s leading physician is at a
complete loss as to what could have caused this.”
“Coincidence?” Masaki wondered.
“I don’t believe in coincidence” Kisho murmured darkly,
“Someone is after the Prince.”
*****
Our hands were joined
Because I won’t forget, right?
Someday you will hold me close, again.”
“Oh…” Motoki groaned as he placed his head in his hands
and leaned forward to stare at Kamekichi, “How many more times will they play
that same song?”
Taro sighed and pretended to ignore his Boss. True, all
the local radio station had played all morning was the same haunting melody,
but he had blocked it out with thoughts of the mission and they fact that they
were nowhere nearer to completing it.
“Not again!” Motoki wailed, causing Taro to jump as the
song started over again.
“Why don’t you just turn it off?” he suggested at last
when his nerves were close to becoming shattered by the constant complaints of
the man.
“I didn’t think of that!” Motoki brightened and turned the
dial to change the station rather than switch it off as Taro had suggested.
Our hands were joined
Because I won’t forget, right?
Someday you will hold me close, again.”
“It’s the same on every station!” Motoki exclaimed.
“Must be a popular song” Taro replied, not really the
slightest bit interested in the ballads that the radio played one bit.
“Who’s the artist?”
“Someone called Venus” Motoki replied angrily, “I’ve never
heard of her? Why can’t the classical station go back to playing classical
songs? Mou, Kimi-kun, its driving me insane.”
But Taro was no longer paying him any attention.
“Venus?” he whispered to himself.
“I am the Senshi of vanity and unrequited love, Dark
Venus. I hear you’ve been giving my friends Mercury and Mars quite a hard time
between the lot of you. I really don’t understand why. My Youma easily
overpowered this one. Now, if the pair of you don’t drop your weapons then my
Youma will kill him.”
“It can’t be…” Taro murmured, “What is she up too?”
His question was answered soon enough when Mamoru and
Masaki entered Crown. Taro noted with some annoyance that Kisho was with them,
though a small part of him was glad that the older man was ok.
“Mamoru?” Motoki said in surprise, “It’s a bit early for
you, isn’t it? I thought you were going to see the future in-laws today?”
Taro had recalled something like that, but judging from
Mamoru’s expression he, too, had heard the song.
“I can go later” Mamoru dismissed his friend with these
words and a wave of his hand, “We’re here to see Taro-kun, if that’s ok?”
“I see” Motoki nodded, sensing that they wanted to talk to
Taro alone, “Just don’t go stealing him, ok? He’s been missing too much work
lately as it is” with this Motoki disappeared into the storeroom.
“Is this true?” Mamoru wanted to know once Motoki was
gone.
Taro shrugged, “A little here and there.”
“It shouldn’t matter how much work or college we miss”
Kisho pointed out, “The mission is what is at stake.”
Mamoru nodded in agreement before Taro would react angrily
to Kisho’s words, “It would seem that the Dark Kingdom is targeting the
Prince.”
“How?”
“We don’t know. Several Princes have fallen ill. We think
that the Dark Kingdom is making them sick in order to find our Prince.”
“Could it have something to do with this song?” Taro
wondered, “It’s by an artist called Venus and has been playing all morning.”
“Do we know where the radio station is?” Kisho asked.
When Taro nodded he turned and made to walk out of Crown,
“Lets go then.”
“You can’t just go charging in there!” Taro protested, a
part of him annoyed as he was the only one who seemed to have a problem with
this.
“Why not?”
“Because it’s stupid! You did that last time and look what
happened!”
“The Prince is in danger” Masaki said quietly, “It would
be foolish to wait.”
“What?” Taro rounded on him. He couldn’t believe that
Masaki was siding with Kisho over this. He had been there too. Kisho could have
been killed!
“Taro-kun” Mamoru stepped in, “We should go straight away,
but I don’t think we should rush into anything. We’re just going to see, ok?”
“What if they have already found the Prince? We wouldn’t
know anything about it!”
“He has avoided us don’t forget” Mamoru reminded him, “I
very much doubt that the Dark Kingdom would have captured him and, in any case,
the song is still playing. If they had caught up with him then the song would
have stopped.”
That made sense to Taro, but he hated to back down in front
of Kisho. Yet with all eyes on him now, what could he do? Muttering something
under his breath he voiced his agreement that they should go and check out the
radio station.
*****
“And who is this Prince? Do you know him?”
Tuxedo Kamen shook his head, “I do not, but he is my
Master and once we find him and obtain the Ginzuishou everything shall fall
into place. You, too, are after the Ginzuishou. This might mean that we become
enemies.”
“Enemies? I don’t want to fight you!”
Tuxedo Kamen tossed his cape over one shoulder and walked
away, casually calling back to her: “Then don’t get in my way!”
“It can’t be…” Usagi whispered, “Enemies… I can’t fight
him… I can’t…”
Usagi walked slowly to school, dragging her feet along the
ground as her forehead creased in thought and recollection of her conversation
with Tuxedo Kamen.
“Enemies… but I don’t want to fight you” Usagi whispered
to herself, tears welling up in her eyes. “I want us to work together, but… but
I know its impossible. We are both after the Ginzuishou and… I just don’t know
anymore!”
Our hands were joined
Because I won’t forget, right?
Someday you will hold me close, again”
Usagi looked round as the limousine pulled up on the
pavement opposite her, music blaring out from its radio as the chauffeur opened
the doors to allow his passengers to climb out.
A stately and elderly looking couple got out of the back,
followed by a boy no more than twelve years old. As Usagi watched, the boy
frowned slightly at the loud music, and placed a hand to his forehead almost in
pain. A gasp escaped her throat as he stumbled slightly and then fell to the
ground.
The couple cried out and the chauffeur knelt down at the
boy’s side, trying to rouse him.
“What is…?” Usagi trailed off as Luna ran to her side.
“Someone is after the Prince!” she cried.
“The Ginzuishou will help us with our mission.”
“Your mission?”
“To find the Prince and protect him.”
“Usagi-chan!”
Luna warned when she recognised the steely determination in her charge’s eyes,
“You must keep away from Tuxedo Kamen! You cannot trust him!”
“I’m sorry, Luna” Usagi turned away from the plushie, “I
can’t do that. I don’t know why, but if Tuxedo Kamen’s Prince is in danger then
I have to help. Even if it means costing us the mission.”
“Usagi!” Luna called as she turned and raced back the way
she had come, “Matte!”
*****
Mamoru paused outside of the radio station. The music was
coming from within and was much louder than before and still that same haunting
song.
He shivered despite himself as he placed a hand on the
door. “We work as a team” he reminded his friends, “We must stick together.
This could be another trap.”
Kisho looked a little uncomfortable at this, but hid it by
saying, “Let’s go then.”
Mamoru nodded and pushed open the door. He was expecting
to be stopped at reception, but the receptionist lay sprawled on the floor, her
energy stolen.
“Youma” Mamoru stated, though it was obvious that this was
the work of the Dark Kingdom. At this point Kisho had already transformed and
unsheathed his sword as though looking forward to the coming battle. Mamoru and
the others followed his lead and again the tuxedoed hero questioned his own
leadership. When the Prince finally showed up, Mamoru knew that he would have
to relinquish his position as leader to the rightful Prince. He was not
reluctant to do this. If the truth were known, Mamoru hated the responsibility.
If Kunzite had asked, he would have gladly given him leadership instead.
Kunzite had not asked and nor would he. Mamoru could see that the strongest of
them preferred to work alone, no matter how much trouble it got him into.
And I, the weakest, am the leader? I don’t even have any
magical powers and I am supposed to lead them. How can I when I can’t even
protect them?
Pushing these thoughts aside, Tuxedo Kamen turned to
Nephrite and enquired to know which way. The red haired king’s terran identity
had worked in the radio station for a day, or so he had said on the way here.
But before he could reply, Kunzite stepped forward, “Just follow the singing,”
he said a little scornfully and Tuxedo Kamen felt his face blush red behind his
mask whilst Nephrite simply looked annoyed.
With a sweep of his cape, Kunzite started off down the
corridor, but Tuxedo Kamen stopped him.
“Kisho!” calling his human name caused him to halt.
“What?”
“Nothing” Tuxedo Kamen said, a little awkwardly, “Just
don’t get too far ahead, that’s all. We don’t know what’s awaiting our
arrival.”
Kunzite considered this for a moment and then nodded, “We
shouldn’t linger too long” was all he allowed himself to say on the subject,
but he let Tuxedo Kamen and the others catch him up before once more taking the
lead.
*****
Kunzite hurried down the corridor, following the music and
pretending not to be aware of Tuxedo Kamen’s almost run to keep up with his
faster gait. Jadeite and Nephrite were a little further behind and the
disapproval radiated from the red haired king. Kunzite ignored this. They had a
mission to complete and he had no time for Nephrite’s petty nuisances. His neck
was still sore and this only served to remind him of his foolish actions of the
day before. Yes, he had been a fool to try and take on the Youma and Dark Venus
alone, Kunzite decided, but he would rather die than concur that to anyone.
“Give it to me” Venus commanded reaching forwards, but
Nephrite stepped back.
“Release Kunzite first.”
“You are in no position to make demands!” Venus retorted
sharply, “Give me the Ginzuishou or he dies!”
What would Nephrite have done if he had really had the
Ginzuishou? Would he have given it up to save him? Kunzite did not know and
this disturbed him somewhat. He knew, had the situation been reversed, that he
would have never have given the enemy what they wanted. Dark Venus could have
easily killed all of them. If Nephrite wanted thanks for his actions, then it
would be a cold day in hell before he got any.
Are these feelings
In the future they will be born, reborn again…”
Kunzite paused outside a room at the end of the long
corridor. This was it. As always, he kicked open the door and burst into the
room ahead of the others. Dark Venus was sitting down calmly at the desk. Radio
equipment was all set out across the top, as the song echoed around the room.
“You again?” she wrinkled her nose in disgust, “What a
nuisance and I haven’t found the Prince yet. Beryl-sama will not be happy.”
Kunzite heard Tuxedo Kamen’s sigh of relief at this fact,
but he himself felt nothing. Kunzite had no wish for anyone to lord over him,
even their Prince.
Venus stood, but as she did so the door opened again.
Kunzite whirled round as a man in his early thirties entered. He was carrying
some papers, but dropped them to the floor when his gaze locked on Dark Venus.
“You’ve been most useful” she said and with a click of her
fingers the man fell to the ground as the Youma was released from him. Its skin
was purple and mottled; its mouth protruded like a beak and when it roared
Kunzite saw two rows of sharp fangs. Its eyes were on each side of its head and
were red and wild looking. Its arms were long and thin like a humans but wing
flaps travelled down to its elbows and were decorated in silver and gold
feathers.
“I’ll leave the rest to you” Venus giggled and exited the
room through the back door. Tuxedo Kamen made to go after her, but the Youma
stepped in between him and the direction Venus had taken.
Kunzite charged his sword with a blue light and slashed it
at the Youma before it could raise a hand to the masked man in front of it. It
screamed as the powers struck its back and it whipped round to defends itself
against the black haired king. Jadeite and Nephrite had also drawn their
weapons. This was the part of the mission that Kunzite secretly loved; the
battle.
******
Sailor Moon ran, she could hear the cries of a battle and
her heart thudded painfully in her chest at the thought of Tuxedo Kamen being
in danger. She had heard the song playing on the radio and when she sensed a
Youma aura she had to investigate. It would seem that Tuxedo Kamen and the
kings had decided too as well.
She turned a corner, as the shouts grew nearer. She was
almost there…
“That’s as far as you go, Sailor Moon.”
“What?” Sailor Moon skidded to a halt as a figure stepped
out of the shadows. It was clear that the blonde, fuku clad girl before her was
a Sailor Senshi, too and this knowledge made Sailor Moon’s heart ache. They
were meant to fight together!
“I can’t have you interfering with my strongest Youma” she
continued, “I prepared it especially for them. This is as far as you go. Venus
love-me… chain!”
Sailor Moon shrieked and jumped backwards as the attack
flew towards her, just falling short as she called up the Moon Wand with one
hand. Dark Venus pouted in annoyance at this and then shrugged to herself as if
to say that it was no matter and stood poised to attack again.
“Venus” Sailor Moon implored to the Senshi, “Please don’t.
I don’t want to fight you! We’re meant to be on the same side. You must
remember?”
Venus snorted, “What are you talking about?”
“Luna told me! She said that we’re the Senshi who protect
the Princess. Beryl has corrupted you to work for her!”
“Stop trying to confuse me! You’re the enemy! Venus
love-me… chain!”
“Moon twilight… flash!”
I have no choice, Sailor Moon realised though it killed
her to attack Venus. If I don’t then the Youma will kill Tuxedo Kamen. The two
attacks hit each other dead on. Both Senshi screamed as the two powers exploded
in a shower of stars. Sailor Moon felt herself be thrown backwards by the force
of the attack. Dark Venus also fell, her eyes wide with a mixture of horror and
surprise.
“You’re strong…” she stammered, “But, I am the…?” she
shook her head as though to rid herself of any doubts, “We will meet again,
Sailor Moon” she managed to get out, “And when we do I will not go easy on
you.”
With those words Dark Venus teleported hurriedly away.
Sailor Moon stood, staring at the space that Venus had
occupied moments before in a stunned silence. Dark Mars… Dark Venus. Just how
many Senshi were there? Tears sprang into her eyes. The Ginzuishou could heal
them… Sailor Moon was so lonely. For the first time she really felt the loss
and pain that had been eating away at her soul and, again for the first time,
had found a cause of it. She was missing something. The Senshi were a part of
her. They were allies, confidants and most trusted friends.
Knowing what she must do, Sailor Moon ran down the rest of
the corridor to the room where the battle was taking place. As she entered, she
was in time to see Tuxedo Kamen being thrown to the ground. The kings were
already down, dazed almost as the Youma towered over them.
Clutching the Moon Wand tightly, Sailor Moon again called
out her attack and the crescent beams of light struck the Youma from behind. It
screamed and exploded, leaving nothing but a fine layer of dust covering the
surfaces and the kings.
“Sailor Moon” Tuxedo Kamen whispered in awe and gratitude.
“I’m just returning the favour” she replied, though the
very sentence almost brought tears to her eyes, “We both seek the Ginzuishou.
That means that we are enemies, are we not?”
She turned on her heel, calmly leaving them. Once clear of
the building Sailor Moon de-transformed back into Usagi and allowed the tears
to fall. She would do anything to save the Senshi, even if it meant going
against her own heart…
*****
His footsteps pounded loudly against the concrete, the
noise painfully loud in his ears as his eyes strained to make out the outline
of the beast just ahead of him. His breath came out in short, ragged gasps, his
cape suddenly feeling like a dead weight over his back as he kept up his even
pace across the dockyard.
It was night. The moon shone in the sky, illuminating the
landscape, but somehow the Youma still managed to keep to what little shadow
there was. Cursing, he forced himself to pick up the pace. Weaving in and out
of the array of crates that blocked his path. The Youma cleared them easily.
Bounding and leaping over the top of them and he was forced to run around them.
Then it was gone. One moment it was just in front of him,
an arm’s length away and the next it had melted into the darkness. He paused,
glancing wildly about, straining his eyes in the gloom to catch even a glimpse
of the creature. Nothing… it had escaped… again.
He cursed loudly, ignoring the disapproving noise that his
companion made.
Every time… this was no good. Gods, what was he doing? He
slammed a hand down on a crate in frustration and then winced at the painfully
loud sound this contact made.
His companion shook his head and told him, somewhat
coldly, that he would have scared it off with all the noise he was making.
Shaking his head, he struggled to regain his composure
whilst trying to catch his breath. It would take time; he tried to calm himself
by thinking. I had always known that it would. Again his companion made a noise
of disapproval and started to walk away. Had he been a more volatile person
then perhaps he would have confronted him, but he only cursed himself instead.
For weeks he had been… and he blew it!
“Kuso” he snarled to himself as he turned away with
a flip of his cape and started back down the moonlit road, after his
unsupportive cohort.
******
“So” Beryl whispered to herself, “Venus has failed.”
“I knew she would” Mars said triumphantly, “Sailor Moon is
strong.”
Beryl nodded. There was something about Sailor Moon.
Something almost frightening to the Queen. She could lose the Prince because of
her, though Beryl couldn’t even begin to understand where that had come from.
It must be another memory. But that was of little importance now.
“Mercury” she turned to the blue haired Senshi, “I want
you to kill Sailor Moon.”
******
Act Eleven Preview:
“I have some great news” she was practically shaking in
excitement as she continued, “The hospital called. As part of their charity day
tomorrow they’ve invited Komoro Seiichi to come and look round the ward.”
~~~~
“We’ll keep to this district to start with. It stands to
reason that he and Sailor Moon both live in or around Juuban. There are four in
the surrounding area. If we each take one to keep an eye on at night then one
of us is going to meet him eventually.”
“And what do we do when we find him?” Masaki asked, “Just
ask him if he’s the Prince?”
Mamoru nodded, “Why not?”
“And what if he’s an enemy?”
“We kill him” Kisho replied.
~~~~
“She truly thought that you were once on her side?”
Mercury sniggered to herself “What a fool.”
Venus nodded; not portraying just how much Sailor Moon’s
strength had frightened her, not that the Senshi understood why. All she knew
was that Beryl was right. Sailor Moon must die.
“It is valuable insight, don’t you think?” she asked the
blue haired girl. When Mercury frowned, Venus continued, “As long as she
believes this then she will not attack us to kill. That gives is a significant
advantage over her.”
~~~~~
“Venus! Mercury!” Sailor Moon cried out as they faced her,
“Please, remember me! Moon healing… escalation!”
~~~~
Did she still mean that? Usagi knew in her heart that she
couldn’t fight against Tuxedo Kamen. There was something about that man…
something she just couldn’t explain. But she wanted the Senshi back. Usagi
could do anything… she took a deep breath and opened the front door.
“I just have to be strong” she told herself, “Once I have
the Senshi back then maybe it will all just fall into place. The Princess will
be revealed and I can go back to being Tsukino Usagi.”
~~~~
“I hoped…” Sailor Moon trailed off. She was unwilling to
divulge any of Luna’s secrets, especially to a possible enemy.