Earth
Guardian Prince Endymion
By Senshi
of Ruin and Mizu no Senshi
Act Two Recap:
I wanted just to forget about what happened at Crown that
weekend. What sane person would believe that there was Dark Kingdom Youma
stealing energy from people on Earth and that I have been chosen to fight by
transforming into this Tuxedo Kamen? It was crazy, or so I told myself.
Then a student at my college had her energy drained. I
didn’t want to fight, but there was something about the new boy, Ueda Masaki,
that caused me to investigate. I thought he was a Youma, but I would have never
guessed that he was…
“You must listen to me! The Princess will only bring
destruction down upon this world! Using that, Metallia will…”
Like me, Ueda-san is destined to fight. I didn’t want this
responsibility, but now I have a mission and someone else on my side. Now
things are different. Now I don’t have to be alone anymore…
******
Ueda Masaki winced at the creaking that the front door
made as he slipped his key into the lock and turned it, before entering the
darkened hallway. He bit his lip when he saw the light under the door, which
indicated that someone was sitting in the front room, most undoubtedly awaiting
his return. It was late, gone midnight the last time Masaki had checked his
watch, but at the time he had not cared. There had been too much else going on.
Now, however, things were different.
Taking a deep breath, Masaki pushed open the door that
connected the hallway with the front room. He blinked under the artificial
light, and stayed in the doorframe, squinting until his eyes accustomed used to
the sudden brightness.
Masaki had not wanted to leave behind his friends and
family in Kyoto to move to Tokyo, but his father, who worked as a bank clerk,
had received a promotion and a transfer so Masaki had no choice in the matter.
Of course, at 19, he was old enough to make his own decisions about where he
wanted to live, but things were not as simple as that.
As Masaki looked up, he met his father’s angry
countenance.
Ueda Haru was not a particularly tall man; indeed he only
just stood shoulder to shoulder with Masaki. He was a little overweight and his
black hair was thinning on top, despite him being in his early forties. Haru
was a very proud man and took his job far too seriously. Back in Kyoto he had
been a prominent member of society. Here in Tokyo, he was nothing and Haru
hated this.
Masaki’s mother, too, was short, though she was thin like
her son and her hair was more the same tan/black streaked colour. She had high
cheekbones and never went anywhere without applying at least two layers of
blusher to her already perfect skin. At 42, age had treated her kindly and she
had very few wrinkles, though there was a sadness in her hazel coloured eyes
that caused her to appear a lot older.
Ueda Tori had wanted a big family, Masaki knew. It had
been her dream to have a houseful of sons and daughters. That dream had died
when Masaki was ten. Tori had been expecting a baby, but had fallen down the
stairs. The fall had not only killed her unborn daughter, but had damaged her
womb. Tori could bear no more children. This was part of the reason that Masaki
had come to Tokyo with them; the other part of his reason was his father.
“Where have you been?” Haru demanded quietly, getting up
from the overstuffed turquoise chair that was in the corner of the small front
room. Tori, too, looked up, tearing her solemn gaze from the fire flickering in
the heath.
Their home was small; it only had two bedrooms and one
bathroom. It was all they could afford, Masaki thought bitterly, though he knew
they deserved much better. Most of his father’s salary was drunk away each
month.
“Out” he replied to his father’s demand, not really
wanting a confrontation after the night he had, had.
“Out?” Haru repeated, moving towards him, “It is passed
midnight! Your mother was worried.”
Tori did not look worried, at least not about his safety.
She preferred the comfort of her sofa and a good horror movie to real life.
Movies were ‘safe’ as far as Ueda Tori was concerned. Movies meant that she did
not have to think about real life.
“I was at that English class I told you about” Masaki
replied uneasily.
“Until midnight?”
He shrugged, “I got lost on the way home. Tokyo looks
different in the dark.”
In actual fact, Masaki and Mamoru had gone for a walk to
talk about things, things that Masaki could not explain to either parent.
“Have you been smoking?”
“No.”
“Yes you have. I can smell it on your clothes. I thought I
told you to quit? It’s a filthy habit. No son of mine should smoke. Give me the
packet.”
Masaki sighed and reached into his coat pocket and handed
the said cigarettes over. He hated to admit it, but his father was right, it
was a filthy habit, and Masaki only did it to spite him. Up until today he
hadn’t really cared what happened to him. Now things were different.
Masaki brushed passed his father and hurried upstairs,
ignoring his angry shouts for him to come back.
Masaki was relived when he reached his room. It was small,
only big enough to fit a bed and a wardrobe in, but it was his private
sanctuary away from his father. Masaki locked the door and slumped down onto
the bed, his heart was beating faster than it had when that creature had
attacked Chiba-san, sparking off events that wouldn’t have ever taken place,
even in Masaki’s wildest dreams.
“You are--?”
“Chiba Mamoru, Tuxedo Kamen… I don’t know.”
“Our mission. Our mission is to find the Prince.”
It was true, Masaki knew deep down. He had felt something
when he had undergone his curious transformation. He was Ueda Masaki, but he
was also Jadeite. Who was Jadeite really? Was he a part of him in this life or
a remnant of the life he had, had before? Masaki was not sure. His visions had
told him that he had to find the Prince and that Chiba Mamoru was an ally.
Yet Masaki knew he was different from Mamoru. Mamoru was
frightened of the mission, though he had tried to hide it. Masaki was not. In
fact, it brought him some comfort to know that there was more to his life than
his present existence. Masaki was not unhappy, but he had always had these
kinds of feelings. He had always felt different. When Mamoru awakened his
powers it was as though he had become whole for the first time in his life.
Before then had been an empty void. Now Masaki felt somewhat complete. He was
safe in the knowledge that he was someone and had a purpose, no matter how
fantastical it may appear.
Of course, he had not voiced his thoughts to Mamoru.
Chiba-san was still in denial, admitting that this had only been his second
battle and that he had no powers of his own. Only his Tuxedo Kamen
transformation. Masaki found this a little strange, but had decided that it was
down to Chiba-san’s unwillingness to fight.
When Masaki had attacked the Youma, he had done it simply
because something deep down inside of him had told him to protect Mamoru.
Mamoru was a comrade. They shared the
same mission; to find the Prince. The Prince was their Master, but Masaki had
no idea where to look or who he was looking for.
****
When Mamoru got in, Hina was asleep on the sofa. Evidently
she had stayed up to wait for him, but had fallen asleep whilst waiting. For
this, Mamoru was glad for he had not de-transformed as he had the first time
and still wore his Tuxedo Kamen guise. He quietly slipped passed her and went
into the bedroom. Once there, he pulled off his mask and gloves and set about
removing the rest of his attire. He sincerely hoped that he would not have to
try and put this getup on every time a Youma appeared, for it was very
cumbersome and he had snagged the cape twice on the way home.
But Mamoru had been too shocked over Masaki’s
transformation to care very much about his own. Ueda Masaki… Jadeite… He did
not know him, but felt as though he had done all his life. It was crazy! This
entire situation was so, but now Mamoru felt some relief. He would not be
alone. Masaki had not said that he would fight, but he had not said that he
wouldn’t. He was that kind of person. He would wait and see what Mamoru decided
to do.
Mamoru sat down on his bed and lightly traced the duvet
pattern with one hand. They had agreed to meet at Crown in the morning. Mamoru
wanted to see how Motoki was anyway, and Crown was the only local landmark that
Masaki was familiar with.
“Our mission. Our mission is to find the Prince.”
The Prince? What Prince? Jadeite had said that it was
their mission. Mamoru was not so sure. He had dreams of a beautiful woman. The
Prince had never featured in any of them and Mamoru had no desire to find him.
He was drawn to that woman in his dreams and the illusionary Ginzuishou. The
Ginzuishou held the answers that Mamoru was looking for.
“Mamoru?” he jumped slightly as the door was pushed open.
Hina stood there in her nightgown, her eyes were red and tears stained her
cheeks. Mamoru felt so much guilt when looking upon her and recalling their
heated conversation of earlier. He hated to be the cause of so much pain.
“Mamoru--” she continued, but he cut her off mid-sentence
with:
“I’m sorry.”
Hina was stunned, and so was he. Mamoru did not usually
apologise.
“You were only concerned. I shouldn’t have snapped at
you.”
Hina smiled and made her way over to him, “I shouldn’t
have interfered. If you don’t want to go to college anymore then I won’t force
you. Your destiny is your own making. I do not want you to feel as though it
has already been decided for you.”
“It hasn’t. I don’t feel that way. I do want to continue
at college.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Our mission. Our mission is to find the Prince.”
Mamoru stood up to pull Hina into an embrace. She leaned
against him, murmuring some inaudible against his chest. Mamoru stared down at
the woman in his arms. She meant more to him than anything, or so he once
thought, but even her presence couldn’t block out the dreams about that woman
and, more importantly, an illusionary gemstone.
*****
Mamoru did go to college the next day, despite his reservations.
He was glad to see that both Takoto Maya and Chino Takara were back and
appeared to be all right after their ordeals. Ueda-san was also present, though
he kept his distance, almost wary of Mamoru and simply nodded politely when
they passed in the corridor. Mamoru found out from Takara that Ueda-san was
studying sociology and mathematics, an odd combination or so Mamoru had
thought. He had gained the impression that Ueda-san was smart, but did not know
what he wanted to do with his life, hence the strange course choices.
Finally the end of the day rolled around and Mamoru left
the college to find Ueda-san waiting for him. He was slouched up against the
wall, as he had been the first time they spoke.
“How are you?” Mamoru murmured as Ueda-san fell one step
behind him as he brushed passed.
“Fine” came the bored reply, “You?”
Mamoru’s back did throb slightly from having been thrown
by the Youma, not that he was going to let Ueda-san know that.
“I’m fine” he replied.
Stoic silence was all he gained from Ueda-san as they
walked down the road to Crown and Mamoru once again became lost in his own
thoughts. Mostly to do with Ueda-san and what he had said last night. The
Prince… The Princess… was the Princess the one in his dreams? She had certainly
looked the part, all dressed up in a white gown and they way she had held her
hands together when speaking to him. She had looked regal enough. It struck
Mamoru as very strange how he was dreaming of the Princess and not the Prince.
When Mamoru paused outside Crown, he turned to say
something to Ueda-san when he heard a crash from inside followed by Motoki’s
angry voice.
They both exchanged worried glances, perhaps having the
same thought as they, moving as one, hurried inside.
The scene that they met was not, however, what Mamoru was
expecting.
Motoki was standing over what appeared to be the shattered
remains of a vase and was shouting at the tall man beside him.
“I don’t know why the manager hired you?” Motoki was
complaining, “This is the sixth thing you have broken today! I would say that I
will take it out of your wages, but you haven’t got any this week as you have
to use them to replace that bathroom window!”
The man in question appeared to be in his early twenties.
His hair was dark brown, almost black and his eyes were just as dark. He was
taller than Motoki and towered over him angrily when the other man mentioned
the window. If this tall man intimidated Motoki, he did not let it show. The
man wore the standard Crown red overalls and underneath had on a pair of black
jeans and a black shirt. He also wore a small silver coin on a chain around his
neck.
“Motoki?” Mamoru interrupted the almost comic scene before
him by clearing his throat and calling his friend’s name.
Motoki’s angry expression faded when he saw Mamoru,
“Mamoru-kun, hello” he beamed, “How are things? How’s Hina?”
“We’re both fine. What about you? I see you have the help
you wanted now.”
“Help” Motoki’s expression darkened, “He is more than a
hindrance than a help. The clumsiest, stupid…” he trailed off when the man in
question brandished the mob he was holding in Motoki’s face threateningly.
Ueda-san made a small noise in the back of his throat that
sounded suspiciously like he was laughing. The tall man glowered at him, but
Ueda-san didn’t seem put off by this in the slightest.
“Who’s this?” Motoki asked when he noticed Ueda-san for
the first time.
“Ueda Masaki. He just moved here” Mamoru replied for him.
“What about him?” he nodded towards Motoki’s fiery helper.
“Kimura Taro” Motoki grinned, “You can call him Kimi-kun.”
Kimura-san’s face contorted in rage as Motoki said this,
“You bastard! Have you given me a funny name?”
Motoki flinched slightly, “No, I just thought it was a
cute nickname, that’s all.”
Kimura pouted and raced off towards the backroom, only he
tripped over the bucket that had been left in the hallway and fell over. Motoki
sighed as he scrambled to his feet and disappeared from view.
“He’s not exactly the model employee” Ueda-san commented
after Kimura-san had gone.
Motoki nodded, “But he does try hard. I just wish he
wouldn’t break everything” he knelt down to pick up the remains of the
aforementioned vase.
Mamoru decided that they had watched his peculiar show for
long enough and suggested to Ueda-san that they might want to go into one of
the rooms to study. Motoki was fine about it. He rarely asked awkward questions
and for this Mamoru was glad.
Once he had shut the door behind them and they were alone,
Mamoru had hoped that Ueda-san would drop the aloof pretence. He did not, and
it was left up to the black haired man to speak.
“I wanted to thank you” he started out by saying.
Ueda-san looked up, surprised at this, “What for?”
“For killing the Youma. It was my first real fight alone.
If you hadn’t of been there I do not know what would have happened.”
Ueda-san shrugged, “It was no problem.”
Again the silence overtook them before Mamoru forced himself
to speak, “Are you all right? I bet you feel pretty shocked about the entire
thing, don’t you?”
“Not really.”
“It shocked me.”
“I always knew… even if my consciousness hadn’t awakened
too it.”
“Do you want to fight?”
Ueda-san again shrugged, “Do you?”
Mamoru hated his indecisiveness and made his decision,
though he was not sure that it was entirely the right one, “Of course. We have
a mission, remember what you said last night?”
“To find the Prince” Ueda-san frowned, “I know I said it,
but I do not know why. All I know is that the Prince is our Master and we must
find him and protect him.”
“Protect him? From the Dark Kingdom? What of the Princess?
I’ve been having these dreams about an illusionary Ginzuishou. Does that mean
anything to you?”
“Not a thing” Ueda-san leaned back in his chair and
sighed, “Not a thing at all…”
*****
“Beryl-sama, please” Dark Mercury implored her Queen as
she knelt down before her. “Give me another chance. I will not fail you this
time.”
Beryl looked down her nose at the Senshi of water and made
a disapproving noise in the back of her throat, “And why should I believe you?
Twice our plans to gather energy have been thwarted by meddlesome outsiders.
You do not know what you are saying.”
“Beryl-sama is right,” the Senshi beside Dark Mercury
added coldly, her mouth tugging up into a pleased smile, “Allow me to collect
enough energy to feed the Great Ruler, my Queen. I will not fail you.”
Beryl turned her gaze upon Dark Mars, “You have a plan?”
her demeanour brightened suddenly. Mars had always been so much more capable.
To some extent, Mercury lacked the intuition and ferocity needed in such an
attack though she was easily the smartest of the Senshi.
“If we can contain humans in the same place we can collect
a million times more energy” Mars smirked, obviously pleased with herself, “As
we speak, my Youma is transporting humans to another dimension and sapping all
their life energy. I will collect enough to revive the Great Ruler and my Youma
will take care of the enemy.”
Beryl nodded, “Then do it, but be warned, I will not
tolerate failure.”
Dark Mars bowed and with a flip of her black hair, she
teleported away. Dark Mercury stared stonily after her, a plan already forming
in her own mind.
****
Tsukino Usagi walked back from Crown, listening intently
to her friend, Osaka Naru, chattering excitedly about the older boy in their
school who most girls had a crush on. Usagi was relieved to be out and about
and doing something normal for a change. She had really enjoyed spending some
time with her best friend and pretending that everything was normal. Grinning
enthusiastically, she nodded and replied to Naru’s question, a huge smile
forming across her face as she did so. Usagi loved Karaoke and she used to
dream about becoming a pop star and having everyone chanting her name and
singing along to her songs.
That smile faded as she recalled her present dreams. They
were far from pleasant, though they did start out so.
It was always dark in them so Usagi could never see the
man’s face. Sometimes they were walking hand in hand across a meadow, laughing
happily together and sitting down on the grass to simply enjoy each other’s
company. Sometimes they were walking down a moonlit beach, always together and
always hand in hand.
Then the dream would shatter as though a breaking mirror.
Usagi’s hand would be torn from his own and she would find herself surrounded
by flames. She tried calling out to him on several occasions, but she did not
recall his name.
The fire terrified her, as flames were a symbol of passion
and Usagi was in love with the Prince. For she knew that the man from her
dreams was indeed the Prince. She felt sure that her mission would lead her too
him. If she obtained the Ginzuishou then she could complete her mission and
perhaps the Prince would appear. Usagi needed the Prince. Her heart ached
without him, as though he had been missing all her life and yet she had not
realised that he was so.
“Usagi-chan?” Naru enquired, “Daijobu?”
Usagi shook her head, “I’m fine, just thinking.”
“Really?” Naru teased, “Then why are you blushing? Is
there a boy you like?”
“Wait!” Sailor Moon cried, taking a step in his direction,
“What is your name?”
“Tuxedo Kamen”
Tuxedo Kamen… Usagi sighed to herself.
She felt drawn to the masked man, too, and berated herself for it. Her heart
loved the Prince, but there was also something about Tuxedo Kamen. He was an
ally that Usagi knew. Since meeting him, her mission had not seemed quite so
lonely.
“Well” Naru said, “This is where we must
part”
Usagi shook her head again, this time to
clear such thoughts, and almost tripping over her own feet as she did so. Naru
laughed, “Usagi, you are so clumsy. I’ll see you tomorrow, ok?”
“Byeee!” Usagi waved as Naru turned down
one street and she went down another. She was so intent on waving to Naru that
she didn’t even realise that she was about to walk into someone.
“Itai!” Usagi squealed as she hit the
floor, dropping her books all over the pavement. Scrambling to her feet she
clapped her hands together and cried out: “I’m so sorry!”
The man she had bumped into frowned and
in that instant Usagi recognised him.
“You stupid kid! Watch where you are going! You could have
been killed!”
“You again!” Usagi exclaimed loudly as
she stared at the black haired man. With him this time was another man, about
the same age with lighter hair, but an equally annoyed expression on his face.
“Do you know this kid?” the other asked
the black haired man.
He sighed and rolled his eyes,
“Fortunately no, lets go.”
“You are so rude!” Usagi pouted after
them. Why didn’t he at least help her pick up her books? Sighing, she got down
on her hands and knees to gather up her missing items just as Luna came racing
around the corner calling:
“Usagi-chan! Transform! I can sense a
Youma aura back near Crown!”
It was going to be a long evening…
*****
Kimura Taro signed angrily as Motoki
once again rebuked him for accidentally knocking over another stupid flower vase.
Taro knew that he was not usually this clumsy, he was just angry. At first he
had not minded getting a job at Crown. The pay was good for what the job was
and the hours were short. He was angry because he had managed to get kicked out
of University in England and had been sent back to Tokyo to live with his older
brother, Kanaye, as his parents refused to fork out for more tuition fees. Taro
had not been happy at University anyway, but he was even unhappier to be back
in Tokyo, especially as his brother could see what a failure he was. Of course
Kanaye would never say this, not in so many words and why would he? Kanaye was
a lawyer; a steady job and a steady girlfriend and what did Taro have? A stupid
job and to make matters worse his boss was stupider than he was and managed to
think up a ‘kawaii’ little nickname for him.
Kimi-kun
Taro’s frown deepened and then Motoki
had to go and tell all of the customers that that was what he was called! It
had not been a good day, and it was about to get worse.
“Kimi-kun!” Motoki’s annoying voice rang
out across the arcade, “You don’t have to mop the floor quite so hard. If you
do then the polish will come off!”
Sighing, Taro stopped what he was doing
to give Motoki the biggest frown he could muster and snarl threateningly, “If
you think I’m doing such a bad job then you can do it yourself!”
Taro had hoped that Motoki would become
intimidated by this, but by now the man was used to his outbursts and simply
grinned before replying, “No thanks, that’s what I hired you for remember? Just
go a little slower, ok, Kimi-kun.”
Taro sighed and nodded, before
deliberately kicking the bucket of soapy water all over the floor. Motoki
yelped as the water soaked his trainers, “What are you doing?” he shouted, “You
idiot!”
That was it! Taro threw down the mop and
grabbed a hold of the startled man by his overalls and slammed him up against
the counter, “What did you call me?”
“Whoa, take it easy… I only meant that…”
Motoki was cut off when one of the
adjourning doors opened and the two men, Ueda-san and Chiba-san, from before
came out. Taro quickly released Motoki and retrieved the mop and started to
clean up the mess on the floor.
“Daijobu?” Chiba-san asked.
“I’m fine, Kimi-kun likes to start
fights” Motoki explained cheerfully.
“He’d get on well with you, Masaki-kun”
Chiba-san quipped to his companion. Ueda-san smirked, but Taro could feel him
watching him. He looked up and Ueda-san averted his gaze. Taro frowned… there
was something about them…
At that moment a group of girls came out
of another room, giggling they waved to Motoki, but as they neared the exit he
called out to them:
“Go straight home, ok?”
“We will!” they chorused before exiting
the building.
“What was that all about?” Chiba-san
wanted to know.
Motoki’s gaze suddenly darkened, “Lately
there have been reports of students going missing after dark. I checked the
papers and all of them had been here before hand. I know there is probably
nothing in it, but I cannot help but feel responsible for it.”
“You shouldn’t feel bad” Chiba-san
agreed, “There is nothing you can do.”
Motoki nodded and Taro couldn’t help but
feel a little bad for him. Despite their constant arguing, Taro did like his
boss deep down and knew that it troubled Motoki so that his patrons were going
missing so sooner after visiting Crown.
Taro tuned out the rest of the
conversation as he decided to focus his attention on the job at hand. He really
should try to pay attention more. His brother would not be very impressed with him
if he managed to lose a week’s pay on the first day!
“Kimi-kun” he jumped when Motoki placed
a hand on his shoulder.
“What?” he snarled out, glad that
Ueda-san and Chiba-san had now left.
“The guttering is blocked, remember? I
need some help to clear it.”
“Now?” Taro looked doubtfully out at the
already darkening sky.
“It’ll be fine for a while” Motoki told
him, “And if we don’t do it today then it could rain and overflow. Then we
would be flooded.”
Taro sighed to himself and set the mop
down before following Motoki outside.
Lately there have been reports of students going missing
after dark
He frowned, those words filling him with a familiar dread
and as he stepped outside the sensation became worse. Taro shivered and wrapped
his arms around himself to keep warm whilst Motoki went to find the ladder. He
suddenly felt uneasy… and he did not like this one bit…
*****
Masaki was silent as they left Crown, even when they
stepped out into the night air and he sensed the same mystical and dark aura
that had coated Chino Takara a day ago. Mamoru sensed it, too, as he whirled
around, searching the already darkening sky for some sign of a Youma.
Masaki supposed that they should investigate, but he was
reluctant to voice this thought to Mamoru in case the other man had no desire,
too. Their mission was, after all, to find the Prince and obtain this
Ginzuishou that Mamoru spoke of.
Still, a Youma was a threat and Masaki supposed that they
should be the ones to fight it, but he wasn’t even sure how he transformed into
Jadeite and if he could do so again. Glancing at Mamoru, he decided that his
friend was having similar doubts, yet was trying to be strong by saying:
“We have to do something. These Youma are as much a threat
to us as they are to everyone else.”
Masaki nodded, “What do we do if we find it? Do you know
how to transform?”
His words sounded foolish to his own ears, but thankfully
Mamoru just smiled and admitted, “No, but I found that I turned into Tuxedo
Kamen when danger threatened me. I think it was the same for you, also. You can
sense its presence, can’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Then I suggest we look around for a bit. Even if we
cannot transform, there is safety in numbers.”
Again, Masaki nodded, feeling uneasy about the entire
situation. Following Mamoru’s lead, they hurried off down the dark streets.
*****
“Kimi-kun? Can you see anything?” Motoki called from the
top of the ladder as he peered over into the guttering. Taro sighed and again
knelt down on the pavement to look up the end of the guttering that came down
the side of the wall and went almost to the ground.
“No” he sniped back with more than a little hostility, “I
told you it was stupid to do this now.”
Thunder rumbled in the distance, as if accentuating this
point. Taro sighed loudly and stood up, “Why not leave it until the morning? It
is getting late.”
“Just let me try one more thing,” Motoki implored.
“Fine” Taro grumbled in reply, “But if it doesn’t work then
I’m leaving.”
“Fair enough” Motoki answered and turned his attentions
back to the gutter. “Can you see anything yet?”
Taro knelt down again and shook his head, “Nothing.”
“That’s strange… oh no, hang on a sec--”
Taro did not hear the rest of that sentence as, with a
sudden rush, dirty rainwater and leaves poured out from the gutter. He leapt
backwards and fell on his back, covered in muck from the face down.
“A loose slate from the roof had got stuck up here,”
Motoki cried triumphantly, then, pausing to look down at Taro, he giggled.
That did it.
“I’m out of here!” Taro snarled and he stormed inside to
clean up and collect his things, ignoring Motoki’s cries for him to come back.
******
Later that evening, Taro found himself walking down the
usually bustling streets of Tokyo, whilst cursing and muttering under his
breath. He had managed to get the worst of the muck off of his face, but it
still stained his clothes and Taro knew he would have to throw them away, which
was fine by him. Today had been, possibly, the worst day of his life and, at
this point, there was no way it could possibly get any worse… or so he thought.
Even at night, Tokyo was rarely deserted, but with the
disappearances, people were reluctant to wander the streets after dark. Taro
did not care for this. He could look after himself.
Still, the silence was making him nervous and the sooner
he got home the better. Home… he dreaded to think what Kanaye would say when he
saw him. Probably nothing, and this made it worse somehow.
Scowling, Taro paused as he sensed something behind him.
He whirled around, seeing only the pavement illuminated by streetlamps.
Sighing, he wondered if he were imagining things and started to again walk down
the street.
There is was again… this time in front of him, Taro
couldn’t see anything, yet there was definitely someone there. He could now hear the sound of heavy
breathing and his demeanour darkened all the more.
“Who’s there?” he called out irritably.
There was, of course, no reply.
Taro was loath to continue on his way, not knowing what
lurked on these streets and had the thought to turn back towards Crown. He had
a key and could stay there for the night. He was not afraid, he told himself.
Just very annoyed and very…
His train of thought snapped off as the presence in front
of him moved. The wind suddenly picked up and Taro’s eyes widened in shock and
some disbelief at what he was seeing as the leaves borne by the unexpected breeze
started to whirl round in a circle right in front of his face. Taro took a wary
step back, too late. What he could only describe as a pair of arms reached out
from the whirling mass and seized him round the shoulders. Taro had barely time
to struggle, let alone utter a cry before they, with surprising ease, dragged
him towards the rotating portal.
“Kimura-san!” he heard someone calling his name, and he
lashed out with a fist, catching his attacker unawares. He was dropped to the
ground and rolled, his back slamming painfully into a tree.
Taro looked up, his disbelief now turning into utter
confusion. He was no longer in the Juuban District. In fact, he didn’t even
seem to be in Tokyo anymore. He was lying in what appeared to be a forest surrounded
by the missing girls, all were unconscious and as Taro stared, the perpetrator
stepped out of the trees towards him.
****
Mamoru sighed to himself. They had been wandering the
streets for nearly an hour, and still they had found nothing unusual that
warranted their attention. Masaki, he could tell, was becoming restless, but
Mamoru was loath to give up just yet. If they waited for long enough, he was
sure that something would happen.
“Why don’t we head back towards Crown?” he suggested to
his companion.
Masaki shrugged, “If you like.” He was still as impassive
as ever, a trait that Mamoru was not sure that he liked in the young man.
Perhaps he had somewhere to be? Mamoru knew that Hina
would be waiting up for him again. She always worried about him, and perhaps
with good reason. Mamoru often worried for himself.
They were nearly back at Crown when it happened. Mamoru
saw Motoki’s cleaner, Kimura Taro, searching around in the darkness, as though
he could see something that they were missing. He whirled around once,
demanding to know who was there and then again, this time focusing on a point
just in front of him.
As the wind picked up, Mamoru suddenly had the urge to go
to the obviously frightened man and he moved to do so, when Masaki grabbed his
arm and pulled him back:
“Wait” he hissed, “Look.”
Mamoru watched as Kimura-san took a wary step backwards
just as, what Mamoru could only describe as a portal opened right before their
eyes, tearing an ugly silver gash in the darkened sky. Hands extended from this
portal and grabbed hold of the terrified man and started pulling him up towards
it.
“Kimura-san!” this time Masaki did not stop him as Mamoru
raced forwards with the intention of coming to his aid.
“Chiba-san!” Masaki called out, Mamoru halted in his
tracks as Masaki stumbled forwards, clutching his head in pain as he started to
glow red. It was the same as last time, Mamoru thought as he underwent his own
transformation.
When he looked up, he was staring at Jadeite once again,
but the portal had closed. They had transformed but had no way of rescuing
Kimura-san or the girls.
“What good is this?” Jadeite demanded, speaking to Mamoru,
but his anger was not directed at him, “How can we save anyone or complete our
mission if we can’t even control our powers?”
Mamoru shrugged, “I don’t know” he was as agitated as
Jadeite was at the thought of leaving Kimura-san to the Youma, though he could
not, for the life of him, understand why.
“Perhaps if we try to focus” Mamoru said, as Jadeite was
clearly looking to him for an answer, “If we focus on the Youma aura then maybe
we can--”
“Tuxedo-Kamen!”
Mamoru looked up and saw Sailor Moon standing before them,
holding the Crescent Moon Wand up high. She gave him a shy smile and gestured
to her weapon.
“Let me try. Perhaps I can break through and rescue your
friend.”
Mamoru nodded, glad to give anything a try, but Masaki did
not seem convinced. He glowered at the sudden appearance of the Sailor suited
solider of love and justice.
Sailor Moon ignored the cold glance that Masaki gave her
as she stepped between the two men and held the Moon Wand out in front of her.
Closing her eyes as it began to glow…
*****
Taro scrambled to his feet, backing away as the silhouette
gradually came into view and he would have laughed, had the situation been
humorous. It was as tall as he was and walked on two legs, its body was grey
and blue and it had arms and legs, but the similarities between it and a normal
person ended there. In place of a head, it had what Taro could only describe as
propellers like that of an aircraft that spun ridiculously round as it skipped
towards him.
Glancing down at himself, Taro noted in disgust the mud
staining his trousers and the blood seeping through a gash to his arm. Now the
monster was reaching out for him, but Taro reacted quicker, jumping backwards
and out of harms way he shouted:
“I don’t know what the hell you are, but I’ve had a really
bad day and you really do not want to make me angrier!”
The monster ignored him and lunged again, knocking Taro
onto his back into yet more mud. That was it. Taro sprang to his feet, not
knowing what to make of the intense rage that was bubbling up inside of him. Of
course, he lost his temper easily enough, but this level of fury frightened
him. It was overpowering and soon all he could see was red and when the monster
lunged at him for a third time, Taro lost what little hold he had on his temper
and struck. He felt a hot burst of light rush forth from his palm. The
sensation was so dizzying that he fell back against a tree, black and white
spots dancing before his eyes.
When the feelings had subsided enough for Taro to open his
eyes, he let loose a ragged gasp. All that remained of the monster was a pile
of grey and blue ash. Stunned, he stared down at himself and the transformation
that he had undergone.
For what seemed like an age, Taro could do nothing. He
couldn’t move, he could barely breath as he stared down at the red and gold
uniform that he found himself wearing, his palm still tingling from the power
that had been borne from it. He gingerly touched the clasps that held the
jacket closed as his gaze wandered to the sword sheathed at his side. What was
this?
“Nephrite?”
Taro jumped slightly as someone called out a name directed
at him that was foreign but yet seemed strangely familiar, and three people
materialised before him. One was a girl with long blonde hair that was done up
into pigtails. She wore a white and blue Sailor fuku, and instantly raced to
the girls, who were starting to come around and began to help them back through
the churning portal.
It was the other two, however, that held Taro’s attention.
One was dressed very similar to his own attire, except
that his was shaded in a dark blue and he had light blonde hair. The other wore
a tuxedo and cape. But, despite their strange clothing, Taro seemed to know who
they were.
“Chiba-san? Ueda-san?” he murmured, gesturing down to
himself, “What is this?”
“Nephrite?” Chiba-san repeated, and then added,
“Kimura-san?”
Taro nodded slowly and allowed Chiba-san to lead him back
through the portal. He did not understand what had just happened, but it did
not seem that frightening anymore. Taro glanced back down at the pile of
charred ash that had been the monster and smiled. What had started out as a bad
day had turned out all right after all.
Act 4 Preview:
“Go” she ordered the two Senshi before her, “Find the
illusionary Ginzuishou. The Ginzuishou is vital to our mission. Do not fail
me.”
~~~~~
“Do you think that the gemstone could be this Ginzuishou?”
Masaki questioned, “Could it lead us to the Prince?”
“Perhaps” Mamoru murmured, his thoughts now turning back
to his dream, “Perhaps once we have the Ginzuishou…”
Masaki frowned, “Then what?”
“I don’t know” Mamoru shook his head, “I can’t remember.”
~~~~~
“They’ll just keep duplicating! Do you really want to
fight anymore?”
“Not really” Nephrite admitted “But what do we do?”
Masaki shrugged, “I don’t know. Running sounds like a good
idea though.”
“Despite the concept sounding cowardly, I have to agree
with you.”
~~~~~
“We are here to find out if the party gift is the
Ginzuishou” Luna reminded her sternly, “You must not get distracted.”
“I know” Usagi replied sadly, “But where to look…?”
~~~~
Then another female cry caught his attention. Whirling
round, Jadeite was in time to see Sailor Moon diving forwards arms outstretched
to catch the falling object.
“Baka!” Tuxedo Kamen shouted, “You’ll never make it!”
But Sailor Moon did make it. Landing right on the edge of
the roof with her prize clasped tightly to her chest. She wobbled dangerously
for a few seconds before her weight finally tipped her over the edge. She had
only time to utter a surprised scream before she fell.