Earth
Guardian Prince Endymion
By Senshi
of Ruin and Mizu no Senshi
Act Thirty-Four Recap:
(Masaki’s POV)
“Hina… She’s been attacked.”
“Attacked?” Masaki repeated.
Mamoru nodded, now trying to stand again, “I have to go…
she’s at the hospital… I have to go to her…”
When Hina-san was attacked we, naturally, went to the
hospital with Mamoru, but to be told that she was dead… I know this sounds
selfish, but we were just managing to get everything into some sort of
perspective and this happens. Now Mamoru won’t even talk to us!
“Mamoru!”
“Leave him” Seiichi said quietly, “He’s grieving. Let him
be on his own.”
“What the hell do you know about grief?”
Seiichi was right, but Taro was only concerned about
Mamoru as we all were. Still there was no need for Taro to yell at Seiichi like
that. I know he didn’t mean it and I’m sure Seiichi knows this, too, but Taro
is creating more problems and we definitely don’t need that right now.
I really don’t know what to do in situations like this at
all. Part of me thinks that we should just let Mamoru grieve for Hina in his
own time, but time is something we do not have. The Dark Kingdom is getting
stronger and Kisho is still refusing to fight with us.
“What was that?”
“That power” Taro added, “I’ve never felt anything like it
before…”
“You wouldn’t have” Seiichi answered quietly, “They
weren’t normal Youma. They were a part of Queen Metallia.”
“Queen Metallia?” Masaki repeated.
“Metallia is nearing her full awakening” Seiichi
explained, “Those Youma will continue to appear as her vassals in this world
until she awakens fully. The Ginzuishou is her anchor in this world. It is the
Ginzuishou that feeds these Youma.”
“What are you saying?” Masaki demanded.
“That the only way to stop Metallia from fully awakening
is to destroy the Ginzuishou.”
Can this be true? Is the only way to save the planet to
destroy the Ginzuishou? If that is so then I know Mamoru will not like it. I
doubt we can count on him, even without what has happened. But if we can’t
depend on our leader to do the right thing… Mamoru has to make these tough
decisions. No one is going to make them for him. What is more important?
Tsukino Usagi or the fate of the planet?
******
Act Thirty-Five:
Tsukino Usagi… always wanting to help others in this
world. A far cry from the Princess who she had been before. A Princess who had,
had a hand in the destruction of the Earth and the Moon.
Sure enough, as Artemis waited with baited breath, a
figure stepped out of the shadows.
“Princess?” Venus called uncertainly.
Artemis padded slowly towards her, “Venus?” he whispered.
It had been so long since he had last seen her like this… so long since he had
been able to speak to her. For centuries Artemis had played this scene out in
his head, knowing exactly what he wanted to say and now… Now he was finally
face to face with her and he had nothing to say. There were no words for the
joy in his heart at seeing his old friend once again.
“Artemis” she said slowly, not moving. She was shocked…
after all Venus had been expecting to see the Princess.
“Usagi-chan told me that you would be meeting her here” he
explained after a moment’s silence between them, “I wanted… I needed to see
you. I’ve missed you, Venus.”
She cracked a small smile at his words, “I’ve missed you,
too.”
He dared to raise his head in hopefulness, “You have?”
Venus nodded and knelt down so that she was at eye level
with him, “The Princess tells me that you have allied yourself with the
Shitennou now.”
Artemis almost jumped back at the accusing tone in her
voice and he quailed slightly as he replied, “I wanted to free you, but alone…
and now you’re free.”
“I am free” Venus repeated quietly, “And still you remain
with them. Why is that?”
“Where else can I go?”
She toyed with a strand of blonde hair as she spoke, as
though the situation was amusing her, “I’m sure the Princess would have you.”
Artemis flinched at the scorn in her voice, “Venus…”
She frowned and then leaned forward to pet him behind the
ears, “Forgive me, it’s just… you know how much I hate the Shitennou. It was
their fault that I was captured by Beryl in the first place.”
Artemis nodded. This was true… but he had long since
stopped blaming the Shitennou for that. To carry blame and anger in your heart
for a thousand years was a long time. A long time for hatred to manifest and
become something else.
“Artemis” Venus spoke again, distracting him from his
thoughts, “Being in the Dark Kingdom… it has affected each of us differently. I
am different now.”
She was, Artemis knew, but that didn’t matter to him. She
was still Venus… she would always be Venus and he said as much to her.
Venus smiled again, this time more gently and stood up,
“I’m glad you feel that way. I was worried that you wouldn’t be able to see
passed the person I had once been.”
“You are always going to be that person.”
“Thank you.”
Artemis let her go, staring at the space she had occupied
long after her teleport faded.
Though their talk was short, Artemis was glad that he had
seen her again. Still, despite what Venus had said about the Shitennou, Artemis
knew that he would stay with Seiichi for now. After all, he had his end of
their bargain to keep.
*****
“Being in the Dark Kingdom… it has affected each of us
differently. I am different now.”
“Venus” Mars called out as she reappeared in the Dark
Kingdom, “Why did you waste time speaking to that toy?”
“Artemis was my friend and confidant in the past life”
Venus answered, “To inspire mistrust now would be a foolhardy move.”
Mars nodded, seeing sense in her words, “Beryl will not
like it. You should have destroyed the cat when you had the chance.”
Venus frowned, as though this troubled her, and then
shrugged, “I will worry about the consequences of my own actions and I suggest
that you do the same.”
“What do you mean by that?” Mars snapped.
Venus gave her a cruel-cat smile, “I’ve seen the way you
glower so at Kuroki Mio. If Beryl sees it, too, then she might think that you
are plotting against her. I would watch your back if I were you, Mars.”
Mars muttered a curse under her breath and stalked away.
Venus… do not get so cocky… sooner or later Beryl-sama
will realise who is truly destined for leadership of the Senshi…
*****
“What was that?”
“That power” Taro added, “I’ve never felt anything like it
before…”
“You wouldn’t have” Seiichi answered quietly, “They
weren’t normal Youma. They were a part of Queen Metallia.”
“Queen Metallia?” Masaki repeated.
“Metallia is nearing her full awakening” Seiichi
explained, “Those Youma will continue to appear as her vassals in this world
until she awakens fully. The Ginzuishou is her anchor in this world. It is the
Ginzuishou that feeds these Youma.”
“What are you saying?” Masaki demanded.
“That the only way to stop Metallia from fully awakening
is to destroy the Ginzuishou.”
It didn’t feel right at all, Masaki mused to himself as he
entered Crown. It didn’t feel right that out of the five of them only he and
Taro were meeting to discuss the mission and Seiichi’s revelation of the day
before. The strongest Youma… If the Youma were getting stronger and Metallia
was nearing her full awakening, Masaki knew that time was running out.
Something had to be decided on, and quickly, too.
He opened the door and stepped into the meeting room. Taro
was already there and seemed concerned to say the least.
Masaki sat down, wondering if there was more to this than
just the mission. There was, he found out, seconds later.
Taro had never been the leader type, Masaki knew, and,
like himself, his older friend preferred to allow Mamoru to make the decisions
and rally them together as a team. Of course, Mamoru was grieving and could not
be expected to be burdened with the mission and this new information at
present.
“Look at us” Taro started, after the pleasantries were
dealt with, “The four Tennou and their Prince and there is only two of us left.
I think you’ll agree that we have to do something and quickly or else the Dark
Kingdom will triumph again.”
Masaki shrugged, not wanting to portray his true feelings
of despair at their situation, “Mamoru just needs time that is all.”
“What about Kisho and Seiichi?”
“Kisho has made his feelings perfectly clear. I wouldn’t
trust him.”
Taro nodded, “I know it is difficult, especially as, at
the beginning at least, we were all fighting on the same side.”
“What are you saying?”
“I spoke to Motoki before you came in. Mamoru isn’t coping
well at all. He doesn’t need the burden on the past life on top of this. We
will fight for now. We must keep him out of it.”
Masaki nodded in agreement, seeing sense in his friend’s
words. He couldn’t even begin to imagine losing someone he cared about, but he
cold recall the look in Mamoru’s eyes when he had first learnt of Hina’s death.
Despite Mamoru’s feelings for Usagi, Masaki knew that grief was only ever made
better by time and time was something that they were short of.
“However” Taro continued, “We cannot just abandon him. I
thought we could go round to Motoki’s. Motoki was worried about Mamoru being
left alone, but he had to come into work. He asked me to check up on him.”
“What about Seiichi?” Masaki asked quietly, recalling
Taro’s outburst of yesterday, “He wants to fight with us, too.”
“He has a funny way of showing it” Taro answered quietly,
but he obviously felt a little bad about what had happened, too, as he agreed
that he would call the third member of their group and ask him if he wanted to
come and see Mamoru with them.
Minutes later Taro received the response that Masaki was
expecting.
“He has something else planned,” he said when Masaki
enquired to know what the excuse was this time. “I don’t understand him at
all,” Taro added, slamming a hand down on the table in frustration, “If it
isn’t to do with the mission then he doesn’t want to know! What is wrong with
him?”
“It could be because of what you said yesterday,” Masaki
pointed out.
Taro sighed, “I was angry. I didn’t mean it.”
“His father died” Masaki didn’t want to voice something
that Seiichi had told him in confidence, but Taro was being unfair and, from
what Masaki had gathered, Seiichi had never truly gotten over his father’s
death. “So he does know something about grief.”
Taro cursed and then added, “Should I call him back?”
Masaki shook his head, “It is done now. I would just leave
it. I’m sure that wasn’t the reason anyway.”
Taro still seemed doubtful and Masaki was regretting
saying anything at all. It had not been his place to say anything, though he
knew that Taro would never say anything to Seiichi.
Instead Masaki decided to focus on the situation at hand,
“You’re right” he said to Taro, “Mamoru shouldn’t be alone.”
This was true. He shouldn’t be, Masaki knew. Beryl had
been desperate to capture the Prince and had gone after Seiichi at every
opportunity. Now that she knew that Mamoru was the true Prince, Masaki couldn’t
help but wonder why she had not made a move against him. This was more than
slightly worrying and Masaki, deep down, really wasn’t happy about leaving
their leader alone. The police still hadn’t found out who had killed Hina and
Taro had suggested that perhaps her death was connected to the Dark Kingdom.
Beryl always acted so jealously around the Princess. If she had ever seen Hina
and Mamoru together…
“We’ll go and see him” Taro decided at last, “I’ll explain
that Seiichi had other commitments or something.”
Masaki shrugged, “Just don’t mention him. Mamoru will
realise that he didn’t want to come round anyway.”
Taro sighed and Masaki couldn’t help but think that his
friend still wanted to make amends somehow.
“Just leave it be” he advised Taro as they left Crown,
“You’ll do more harm by bringing up the subject again.”
“You’re right” Taro sighed, obviously angry with himself
still.
“What the hell do you know about grief?”
Perhaps this was unwise? Perhaps he should make sure that
Seiichi was okay? Masaki hurriedly dismissed this. He had never been that good
with emotional issues and if Seiichi wanted to talk about anything then he knew
where they were. Besides he had made it perfectly clear that he really didn’t
want anything to do with them in their normal forms. There was no point in
trying to force him to do anything different. No point at all…
*****
“The Princess is the real enemy”
Kisho slowly opened his eyes as a grating voice, full of
bitterness, cut through his thoughts. He looked up, too stunned to do anything
as he gazed upon the woman before him.
“The Princess is the real enemy” Beryl repeated, “But if
the Princess dies then perhaps…”
“Perhaps what?” Kisho prompted, knowing that he should be
afraid, that he should transform, but shock had rooted him to the very spot.
Beryl could kill him if she so desired, but Kisho knew that this was not her
true purpose.
“If the Princess dies then perhaps the Earth will be
saved…”
“The Princess” Kisho’s eyes narrowed in hatred at Beryl’s
words. He stared up at the Queen of the Dark Kingdom, trying to assess her gain
in appearing before him like this. Beryl hated the Princess, too. Was this some
kind of ploy on her behalf to trick him into killing Tsukino Usagi? Kisho
didn’t know. He had said that he would let Usagi be for now and intended to stick
to that. The Ginzuishou was another matter…
“The Princess destroyed the world before” Beryl continued,
“Remember how it felt to arrive back at the palace and find your comrades
slaughtered before your eyes” she urged him and Kisho shuddered slightly as her
voice triggered more memories… more painful scenes of the past that continued
to eat away at his soul.
“Master? Jadeite? Nephrite? Zoisite?”
Smoke seared at his eyes, pouring down his throat as he
cried out for his comrades, though the screams of the dying blocked out even
his own voice. Kunzite ran faster, icy panic gripping at his heart as his eyes
darted wildly to the destruction around him.
The kingdom… the beautiful marble palace lay in ruins. The
people crushed underneath fallen masonry. Smoke now covered the sun and blotted
out the sky. It gave Kunzite a chill to behold and at the same time was
familiar. With it came anger. Anger so immense that he almost crashed to his
knees. The Princess… all was her doing…
“No!” a strangled cry escaped him as he halted in the
palace grounds, staring at the huge marble pillars that had fallen during the
battle. A scream caught in Kunzite’s throat as he recognised two of his friends
lying lifelessly on the ground.
“Jadeite… Nephrite…” he whispered. Kunzite stepped
forwards as his gaze locked upon a third person lying further away. Stumbling
towards the person, Kunzite choked on his name as he recognised the third of
the Tennou. He lay on his stomach; his lifeless blue eyes seemed to be staring
up into Kunzite’s own as though accusing of causing all of this. “Zoisite…”
Kunzite’s sorrow deepened as he stared upon them.
“You still see their bodies each time you close your eyes
and one day those nightmares will become reality once more. Think about it! If
the Princess dies then the Earth will be saved.”
Kisho’s eyes flew open at her words, “The Earth will be
saved? Why do you wish for this planet to be spared?”
Beryl’s eyes narrowed and she said not a word more on the
subject. Kisho was momentarily blinded as a red light pulsed out from the Queen
and engulfed the room. When he was able to see again she was gone.
Just what were Beryl’s motives if not to destroy the
planet?
*****
Beryl stood facing the crimson glow that was Queen
Metallia. More often than not the light would pulse and she would feel the
power of the Great Ruler stir. She was everywhere… Beryl could feel her essence
flowing through the very fabrics of her Dark Kingdom.
Yes… her Dark Kingdom, Beryl thought. The Dark Kingdom was
hers. Once Metallia had awakened fully she would have no need for Beryl or the
Dark Senshi. Though Beryl may use Metallia’s powers, it did not mean that she
was not without her own. It was Beryl who would rule the Earth with Endymion at
her side. Metallia sought only to lay to ruin the blue planet. Beryl did not
want this, not anymore.
The Princess was feeding Metallia, but if the Princess
were gone… Perhaps Kunzite would kill her or perhaps not. It did not matter to
Beryl who dealt with her as long as she was gone. All she had done was set the
wheels in motion. The Princess would die, whether it be by the Shitennou’s
blades or by Endymion’s own hand.
The Princess… Beryl’s eyes narrowed as she thought of her.
The Princess would die, but first she would witness Beryl’s triumph. Endymion
would belong to her. She had found his greatest weakness and would exploit this
to make him her own.
*****
It had been a day, but to Mamoru it felt like a lifetime.
He couldn’t sleep, he could barely eat. All he could think about was Hina.
Every time he closed his eyes he could see her smiling face as he said goodbye
to her that morning. Now she was gone. At first, Mamoru had been unable to
accept this and now that he had there was a huge whole left in his life. The
police had phoned, explaining that he was able to go back to the apartment and
collect a few things. Mamoru had not gone. How could he? He couldn’t… he
doubted that he could ever go in there again.
Hina’s parents had been round. Stricken with grief they
had been unable to say very much to him. What was there to say? She was gone.
Nothing would bring her back. All Mamoru was able to do was look back over the
last few months and realise how badly he had treated her.
There were no funeral arrangements. How could there be?
Hina had been murdered and the police refused to release her body until they
had a substantial lead. Mamoru doubted that they could. Nothing had been taken
and Hina had no enemies. A random act of violence had taken away the life of a
young woman who had every thing to live for. There would be no justice for her
now.
The phone rang, startling Mamoru slightly as he had been
lost in his own thoughts. He didn’t want to answer it. Indeed Taro had left him
a message earlier this morning saying that they were coming round to see him.
Mamoru did not want to see anyone. He just wanted to be left alone.
After several seconds the answer phone kicked in.
“Master? Are you there?”
He was surprised to hear Seiichi’s voice. Evidently he
knew nothing of Taro’s planned visit or, if he did, he was not going to be a
part of it. Mamoru didn’t want to speak to Seiichi. He didn’t want to speak to
anyone.
“Master?” Seiichi pressed, obviously well aware that
Mamoru was in and was ignoring the phone.
Sighing, he crossed the room and picked up the receiver,
“What is it, Seiichi?” he hated how cold his voice sounded, but Seiichi didn’t
seem to be bothered by this at all and simply said:
“I wanted to see how you are.”
“Bearing up. I really just want to be left alone” Mamoru
answered, knowing that he could be honest with Seiichi and not have to worry
about the other man taking this the wrong way.
“Of course. If there is anything you need, please don’t
hesitate to ask.”
“There is one thing.”
“Yes?”
“I can’t stay at my apartment anymore. There are police
everywhere and even when they are gone… I don’t want to stay where she died.
Can you understand that?”
“Of course.”
“I need some things. A change of clothes, you know the
usual.”
“You would like me to go?”
“Yes. The police will still be there so you won’t have any
trouble getting in. I’ve already told them that one of you will be coming in my
place. Do you mind?”
“Not at all, Master. Shall I bring your things over
afterwards?”
“No” Mamoru answered, “I’ll collect them from you later on
today. There is something I need to do first. Thank you, Seiichi-kun.”
“It is no trouble, Master, but if I may say one thing?”
“What is it?”
“The Dark Kingdom… they have been too quiet lately. Please
do not think that Beryl has forgotten about you.”
“What are you saying?” Mamoru asked quietly, not really
wanting to think about the mission at all at the moment.
“It is probably nothing, Master, but… please be careful.”
“I will” Mamoru assured him. If he were honest he was not
really sure what exactly Seiichi was getting at and his friend seemed reluctant
to voice any exact thoughts.
The rest of their conversation was brief. Mamoru didn’t
really want to talk about what had happened and it wasn’t in Seiichi’s nature
to comment, though he did seek some assurance that Mamoru would be fine before
hanging up the phone.
As soon as he did so, Mamoru pulled on his coat and went
to the door. He hadn’t mentioned to Seiichi that he was going out. He knew that
his friend would not approve. Mamoru himself didn’t even know where he was
going. He just wanted to get out of the house. He couldn’t think straight. His
grief was consuming him and Mamoru hated it. He wanted to be able to speak to
Hina’s parents, to cry openly but he couldn’t. Not when he felt so guilty about
how he had treated her when she was alive and now that she was dead he still
couldn’t seem to do the right thing.
Still, shook held Mamoru immobile for almost a minute when
he opened the front door and found Tsukino Usagi staring back at him, her hand
raised in the act of ringing the bell as he opened the door.
Tentatively Usagi stepped forwards and wrapped her arms
around him. Momentarily shocked, Mamoru returned her embrace, recognising it as
an act of compassion. There were no hidden agendas where Tsukino Usagi was
concerned. He had lost someone he loved and she just wanted to take the pain
away, so Mamoru let her. He just didn’t know what else to do anymore…
“Usagi” Mamoru murmured as she gazed up at him, her eyes
showing a mixture of nervousness and compassion as they had yesterday. Mamoru
hated himself for recalling how it felt to have her in his arms… that it took
all his willpower not to embrace her again… and Hina hadn’t even been dead for
48 hours!
“I came to see how you were,” she said softly.
“I was just on my way out.”
“Oh… shall I come back?”
Mamoru wanted to say ‘yes’, but as the seconds ticked by
he suddenly felt unable to say anything of the sort and he truly despised
himself for this.
“No” he answered at last, “I was just going for a walk.
You can come, too, if you like.”
******
“So, Usagi-chan” Mio whispered as she watched the couple
leaving together. “You still will not leave Endymion alone. You must still care
for him in this world, but your love cannot be as great as mine. Endymion, you
will belong to me. It is time that you learned just how deep my affection for
you is.”
*****
They went to Ueno Park. It seemed like an appropriate
place, Mamoru thought bitterly as they walked alongside the Shinobazu Ponds and
back towards the Tosho-gu Shrine. They were well away from the part of the park
where the Senshi had attacked and for this Mamoru was glad. He didn’t think he
could face all of those memories, especially now that he was here with Usagi.
Glancing at the pigtailed girl, Mamoru didn’t know what to
think anymore. Being with her had destroyed the planet, but… but now he
couldn’t imagine his life without her.
Usagi paused as he did, sensing some indecision in his
heart. She smiled shyly and gestured to the surrounding area, “Isn’t it
beautiful? I’ve always wanted to come here.”
“You’ve been here before” Mamoru said, a little coldly.
Usagi nodded, “I have, but always alone… never with
someone… not like this.”
“What do you mean?” Mamoru snapped, taking a step away
from her.
“Nothing!” Usagi shook her head, “I’ve just… I’ve just
been so lonely.”
“Hina hasn’t even been dead for two days! Just because she
is gone doesn’t mean that I do not have feelings for her.”
“I didn’t mean that. I just meant that I--”
Mamoru turned away, the harmonious mood ruined as he
sniped back, “I no longer care for the past life! I just want Hina back!”
Usagi uttered a small cry, but what she said to this was
not what Mamoru was expecting, “Mio-chan?”
He turned back, shivering as a particularly cold breeze
swept through the park, accentuating his uneasy feelings as Kuroki Mio took a
step towards them.
“Usagi-chan” she grinned, addressing the pigtailed girl,
“You never learn and you always end up saying the wrong thing. Can’t you see
that Mamoru-kun is grieving?”
“Get away from him” Usagi whispered, her face turning as
pale as Mamoru’s own when Mio took another step towards him, allowing a
fluttering of black rose petals to follow in her wake.
“Yes” Mio said, her grin widening when she saw the dark
accusation in Mamoru’s eyes, “I killed her. I killed Hina.”
******
“Mamoru?”
Masaki sighed and leaned back against the wall of Motoki’s
house as Taro continued to shout and pound on the door. It was obvious that no
one was in, or so Masaki had tried to tell his friend, but Taro was convinced
that Mamoru was inside and was simply ignoring them. How anyone could ignore
the racket Taro was making though Masaki did not know. Even the neighbours were
starting to stare at them.
“He’s not in” Masaki said for the tenth time, “He probably
went for a walk.”
“A walk?” Taro repeated dubiously, as he ceased his killing
of the door, “His fiancée has just been murdered and he decides to go for a
walk? I don’t think so. Mamoru!”
“This isn’t helping” Masaki pointed out, “Just give it a
rest before someone calls the police.”
Taro sighed and took a step back, “I just want to see if
he’s all right.”
“I know” Masaki answered, not admitting that he was
worried, too.
“He’s gone to the park” a new voice rang out and Masaki
turned to see Artemis bounding towards them.
“The park?” Taro repeated, “Why? What are you doing here?”
“I thought I would keep an eye on him, after what
happened” Artemis explained.
“I see. Did Seiichi put you up to this?”
“Of course not! He went to Ueno Park… with Usagi.”
“Usagi?” Taro frowned, obviously, like Masaki, not liking
this at all.
“Kuroki Mio was following them,” Artemis added.
Kuroki Mio…
“What do you know about Kuroki Mio?” Masaki asked
suddenly, wanting to focus his mind on something else and thus his thoughts
wandered to the strange pop idol. Kisho hadn’t liked her… then again Kisho
didn’t like anyone…
“I’ve met her a few times” Seiichi allowed, a little
cagily, “Why?”
“It is probably nothing, but she’s enrolled in Tsukino
Usagi’s school. She came into Crown this afternoon.”
Seiichi nodded, “I see. You might want to watch your back
around her.”
“Why?”
Again the wall was back up and Seiichi shrugged, “I don’t
know” he replied.
“Taro-kun” Masaki said, turning to his friend, “Go and get
Seiichi.”
“What? Why?”
Masaki shrugged, “I don’t know” he answered uneasily,
“Kuroki Mio… I don’t like it. I’m going after them.”
Taro was obviously shocked that Masaki would take the
initiative regarding the pop idol, but couldn’t help but ask why.
“Something Seiichi said once. I don’t like her.”
Taro was still undecided, but sensed that Masaki couldn’t
really explain anymore than he had already done so and agreed to go and find
the third Tennou.
As soon as he had gone, Masaki followed Artemis in the
direction of the park.
*****
“You…” Mamoru whispered, his face draining off all colour
as Mio took another step in his direction, “You killed Hina?”
“Yes” she nodded, “Do you want to know why?”
She killed Hina… Hina was dead because of her… Mamoru
stumbled backwards, the weight of this knowledge weighing heavily on his
shoulders and almost threatening to overwhelm him.
“You… what are you?” he choked out.
“I’m Kuroki Mio,” she laughed, as her gaze darkened, “I
think you know who I am, Mamoru-kun.”
She held out a
hand, her palm inches away from touching his face when Mamoru slapped her hand
away “Don’t touch me!”
Mio’s gaze darkened at this act of rejection and she
thrust out a hand, sending a wave of dark energies towards them. Mamoru fell
heavily on his back; hearing Usagi scream as she fell down beside him was the
final straw. She killed Hina… Mamoru couldn’t let that go… he couldn’t…
He stood, slowly, fuelled by rage as he transformed into
his Endymion self. Mio took a nervous step back as he drew his sword and pointed
it in her direction.
“Mamoru?” Usagi whispered, grabbing hold of his arm in an
attempt to stop him, but all Endymion could focus upon was the demon who had
killed Hina.
“Don’t interfere!” he snapped, pushing Usagi away from
him. She hit the ground again, uttering a fearful cry as he slashed at Mio with
this sword. She jumped backwards, narrowly avoiding this blow, a cruel smirk
still fixed upon her face.
“Long ago I sought to make you my own” Mio taunted, “Do
you think I would let anyone get in the way of that?”
“So you killed Hina? You killed her because of me?”
“She got in my way” Mio snapped darkly.
Endymion’s aura darkened further and he lunged at her
again, yet still she avoided his attack. All he could see was that triumphant,
shark-like smirk grinning back at him. Hina’s killer… Kuroki Mio…
“Mamoru!” another voice rung out across the park and
Endymion turned, surprised to see Jadeite standing a few metres away from them,
seemingly unsure of what to do.
Mio also turned, her gaze narrowing dangerously as she
glared at the blonde Tennou, though the calculating look in her eyes sent
shivers down Endymion’s spine even as she said:
“Don’t interfere!” with this she sent an attack of dark
magic hurtling straight towards the blonde. It struck him in the chest and he
fell. His cry of pain served nothing but to fuel Endymion’s rage and he turned
to Mio once more, determined to make her pay.
When he finally made it to the right apartment, Mamoru
found Hina in their room. She was in the middle of packing together some of her
things into an overnight bag.
She looked up as Mamoru approached. It was obvious that
she had been crying and her eyes filled with more tears as she gazed upon him.
“Hina? What is all this?”
“I’m… I’m going to stay with my parents in England” Hina
replied, her voice cracking in places as she said this.
“Why?”
“It is over… I understand that now… Whatever it is that
keeps you from me… I cannot compete and I---”
“Baka” Mamoru half smiled and shook his head at her
blindness, “Hina, you are very special to me. Do you think I would ever want to
give up what we have?”
“But? I thought that?”
“You thought wrong. I have made my decision. I want to be
with you.”
I made her stay… I chose to be with her
and it killed her… I should have just let her go. Why didn’t I just let her
leave?
“Mamoru!” he heard Usagi crying again, “Stop this!”
He couldn’t stop… how could he let Hina’s killer live?
“Mamoru!” Usagi cried for a third time, “This isn’t
right!”
“Why are you angry, Mamoru-kun?” Mio pouted, “I only
killed her because of you.”
“I can see this is getting us nowhere” Mio sighed in mock
frustration, “I shall retreat… for now…” with those words she teleported away,
leaving behind nothing save for a scattering of black rose petals.
As she left, Endymion felt his anger fading. The release
of this fury was so great that he dropped to his knees de-transforming as he
did so.
“Mamoru?” Usagi whispered, tears shining in her eyes as
she turned away. She could do no more for him… this they both knew.
Mamoru stood, slowly, his eyes burning with unshed tears
as Usagi left, but he forced this all away when he saw his friend lying on the
ground.
“Masaki? Daijobu?” he ran to his friend’s side. He raised
his head, nodding weakly and Mamoru helped him stand.
“I…” Mamoru started but trailed off. What could he say?
Kuroki Mio had murdered his fiancée and he wanted revenge. He wanted her to
suffer as he had, but… she had killed Hina because of him, because of the past
life.
“I need some time… I need to be alone” he said at length
and Masaki nodded, letting him go.
Time, Mamoru thought bitterly. It would take more than
time to assuage his guilt.
“Just because you choose to be with someone else does not
mean that her love will fade.”
It was true, Mamoru knew, but right now Hina was all that
mattered. She was gone, but her death weighed heavily on his conscience and
heart.
******
Taro was pretty much breathless as he ran to Mamoru’s
apartment block. He had always considered himself to be quite fit, but
Seiichi’s apartment was right over the other side of Juuban and when his manager
had explained that the pianist was collecting some of Mamoru’s things, Taro had
to take several minutes to force down his resentment and jealously before
trying to call Seiichi on his mobile. It rang for several minutes and went to
voice mail. This did nothing to improve Taro’s mood. He felt a little angry
with Seiichi, but mostly annoyed that, after refusing to go with them to see
how Mamoru was, he would take it upon himself to call their leader and then
offer to collect some of his things!
Taro couldn’t help wonder if, despite Masaki’s assurances,
that his words of yesterday still bothered his friend. Taro knew he spoke his
mind when he was angry and that this often got him into trouble, but he had
assumed that Seiichi would brush this off. Perhaps not… he had thought about
asking Tetsuya, but decided against it. Seiichi wouldn’t thank him for it and
Taro, reluctantly, heeded Masaki’s words and let the matter drop.
Surprisingly he had little trouble getting into Mamoru’s
apartment. There were still some police present, but they were searching the
lower floors for clues and were content to allow Taro to enter the apartment.
As he entered, Taro felt as though he was entering a
graveyard. The apartment held the same oppressive sadness and he shivered
slightly, despite himself.
“Seiichi?” he called out, his voice echoing loudly off of
the four walls. Taro frowned when no one replied. Hadn’t Tetsuya said that
Seiichi was coming straight here? Taro picked up his phone again and dialled
Seiichi’s number. After a brief pause he could hear it ringing. His frown
deepened when Taro held his own phone away from his ear and found that he could
still hear a phone. In fact, it sounded as though it was coming from the
adjourning bedroom. Hurrying across the room, Taro opened the bedroom door and
stepped into the room. The room was tidy, probably Hina’s influence, except for
a small overnight bag on the bed. He quickly had a look inside and this
confirmed that the clothes were Mamoru’s. Seiichi’s phone was lying on the bed
next to the bag, still ringing.
“Where the hell is he?” Taro whispered to himself as he
cancelled the call. Had something happened?
Taro froze when he heard the bedroom door gently click
shut behind him.
*****
Mio reappeared in the caves of the Dark Kingdom,
disappointment welling up inside her heart as she thought of Mamoru’s
rejection. She had thought that killing that tramp would prove to him how great
her love was, but, if anything, it seemed to have pushed him further into
Usagi-chan’s arms. This could not be… it was unforgivable.
“You can’t make him love you”
Mio whirled around and saw Dark Mars leaning up against
the cave wall, a smirk etched across her face, “He didn’t love you in the past
life so what makes you think that he will love you now?”
“Silence!” Mio snarled, “Do you know who I truly am?”
“Beryl-sama’s shadow” Mars said, taking a step towards
her, “But you are not truly Beryl-sama, are you?”
Mio did not reply, but her silence answered Mars’s
question.
Thinking that she had the upper hand, the Dark Senshi
continued, “He will never love you. Why can’t you see that? Why pin your hopes
on such a foolish façade? It is truly pathetic.”
“Pathetic?” Mio grit out, clenching her fists at her side,
“You would know all about pathetic, wouldn’t you, Mars? Tell me, has Beryl-sama
give you leadership of the Senshi yet?”
Mars took a step back, her cocky smile fast fading.
“I didn’t think so” she smiled, “Now you listen to me. I
may not be Beryl, but I have influence over her. Just so we understand each
other.”
“Understood” Mars grit out, “But I shall not forget this.”
Mio held her gaze for a second longer before turning away,
“Neither shall I.”
*****
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.
Zoisite ran, his heart hammering loudly in his chest as he
gave chase to the Youma. It was always one step ahead of him… he could almost
scream in frustration as it tore down the back streets of Tokyo, moving fast,
even in the daylight.
It had eluded him so many times. That day in the park
before he collapsed, when Jadeite and Zoisite confronted Sailor Moon… he could
easily lose count of the number of times when this particular Youma had
escaped.
This was why, when Zoisite had sensed it when he was in
the Master’s apartment, that he had felt as though he couldn’t ignore its
presence. This could well be his last chance too… he snapped off this line of
thought as the Youma cleared a fence, forcing Zoisite to do a quick teleport to
the other side and, by that time, the Youma had disappeared.
He paused, desperately scanning the area and realising
that the Youma had led him into a small park on the north side of Tokyo, far
away from the Juuban District.
“No” Zoisite whispered, wincing upon hearing the
desperation and fury in his voice. He was so close… so close to catching it
and… and what? He didn’t know… Zoisite took a deep breath, trying to regain his
composure. There were trees everywhere. This park, no matter how small, was an
ideal place for a Youma to hide. It was probably well away by now. There was
nothing he could do.
Taking a few extra minutes to catch his breath, Zoisite
teleported back to the Master’s apartment and promptly de-transformed in front
of a stunned Kimura Taro.
The older man whirled around as he approached, an almost
guilty look on his face as he locked gazes with the star.
“Where have you been?” he asked quietly.
“There was a Youma.”
“Why didn’t you call us?”
“It was only one. I could handle it on my own.”
“I see” Taro nodded, gesturing to his phone, “I’ve been
trying to call you. There was some trouble. Kuroki Mio is an enemy, but I think
you knew that all along, didn’t you?”
Seiichi nodded, still feeling breathless and on edge. The
last thing he wanted/needed was an inquisition.
“Is the Master--?” he asked instead but Taro cut him off
by saying:
“Mamoru’s fine. Masaki just called. He’s going home. I
think he’s taken Hina’s death harder than he’ll ever let on.”
Seiichi shrugged and said, a little coldly, “What would I
know about grief?”
As soon as he said this, he wished he hadn’t. Indeed it
wasn’t in his nature to comment on Taro’s words of yesterday, but Seiichi had a
headache and he didn’t really feel like socialising right now and he quickly
added as much when Taro looked as though he was going to settle on a sarcastic
comeback to this.
Surprisingly the taller man actually seemed a little
concerned and offered to take the Master’s things. Seiichi agreed to this and
turned to leave when Taro called after him:
“Seiichi-kun?”
“Yes?”
“You shouldn’t take on Youma alone. If something
happened…” he trailed off, obviously thinking back to his time as a captive in
the Dark Kingdom and how he had been caught because he faced a Youma alone.