Earth Guardian Prince Endymion
By Senshi of Ruin and Mizu no Senshi
Act Twenty-Seven Recap:
(Mamoru’s POV)
“Zoisite-sama?” Tuxedo Kamen spoke, his voice wavering in
places, “What are you doing?”
“We want the Ginzuishou” Zoisite replied coolly, “And I
intend to get it.”
“No” Tuxedo Kamen shook his head, stunning all of them, “I
can’t let you do that.”
I don’t know what on Earth possessed me to go against
Zoisite-sama like that. He is the Prince and, as I had been trying to tell the
others, that we, as the Shitennou, were supposed to protect him.
To think I was going to fight him if I had to and all to
protect Tsukino Usagi. I don’t know what is happening to me. Whenever she is in
danger my heart starts to pound and all my blood rushes to my head. All I can
think of is keeping her safe, but why? It is the Prince and the Princess who
are destined to be together.
“And have you forgotten the past? You loved her!” Tuxedo
Kamen shouted angrily, indicating Sailor Moon “You loved her enough to give up
the planet! Do you still love her in this world?
Perhaps this was why I needed Zoisite-sama to say that he
loved her; so that I knew that my feelings could never be returned. He would
not. Was he afraid of showing weakness? I don’t understand it. Why attack the
person he loves? It makes no sense in this world.
“Well I don’t want this. I don’t want to be the leader.
How can I be when none of you wish to follow my lead? How can I make decisions
when I don’t even know who my Prince is?”
It is becoming too much for me. My friends hate me and my
feelings for Sailor Moon, but they distrust Zoisite-sama, too. Is this truly
what he wants or is there more to it than that? He is not telling us everything
that we need to know so how can I lead wisely when our goals are no longer the
same? I can’t so I won’t. How can I tell them to trust Zoisite-sama when I no
longer trust him myself?
******
Act Twenty-Eight:
Sailor Moon stared after Tuxedo Kamen, her heart hammering
loudly in her chest as his words repeated themselves over and over in her mind.
“The Ginzuishou will remain with Sailor Moon.”
“I cannot allow that. Step aside.”
“Or what? Will you fight me?”
“If I have too”
He went against his Prince… for her? She didn’t even think
that Mamoru-baka liked her that much let alone risk his Prince’s wrath for her.
Sailor Moon felt a blush creeping across her face as she thought of the man
behind the mask. No matter what Mamoru’s feelings for her were, Sailor Moon was
certain of her own. Still… they completely contradicted her feelings for the
Prince.
Now alone, Jadeite having left soon after Tuxedo Kamen,
Sailor Moon de-transformed and remembered her fallen friends. Naru had just
come round and was kneeling over the fallen form of Kuroki Mio. The pop idol
was conscious now, but seemed in pain.
Usagi hurried to her friend’s side and knelt down as well,
“Mio-chan? Daijobu?”
Mio was clutching her left wrist in her right hand and
winced when Naru tried to touch it.
“I think it’s broken” she whimpered and then looked up at
Usagi as though noticing her for the first time. Tears spilled down her cheeks
as Mio asked painfully, “Usagi-chan? Why did you leave me?”
“Leave you?” Usagi repeated dumbly.
Mio nodded sadly and a sob escaped her, “You ran off and
left me when that… that creature attacked me.”
“Usagi-chan? Is this true?” Naru asked softly.
“No…” Usagi protested but trailed off halfway through her
sentence. What could she say? That she was fighting? She lowered her gaze, “I
didn’t run away,” she mumbled in the end.
“You did, you did” Mio accused, her lower lip wobbling
dangerously, “Just because you hate me.”
“Usagi doesn’t hate you” Naru assured her with a smile as
she helped the other girl to her feet, “And if Usagi says that she didn’t run
away then I believe her. I don’t know why you think Usagi-chan doesn’t like
you, Mio-chan.”
“Naru-chan, thank you” Usagi was genuinely touched by her
friend’s support, especially after Naru was knocked unconscious first and had
no idea if Usagi had run away or not.
“That’s okay” Naru smiled, “Now, who wants to go back to
my house and watch some TV?”
Mio shook her head, “I’ve just remembered I have somewhere
to be. I’ll see you tomorrow Naru-chan, Tsukino-san.”
Usagi watched her leave, once again feeling a chill run
through her. Mio had deliberately tried to turn Naru-chan against her, but why?
******
“He said what?” Taro exclaimed loudly, almost deafening
his friend on the other end of the phone, “Why the hell would he do a thing
like that?”
“I don’t know” Masaki replied sullenly, “But it happened
and he’s dumped this whole leadership deal on my shoulders.”
Taro shrugged, not that Masaki would see this reaction,
and answered, “I still can’t believe Mamoru-kun. He was the one who said that
we should trust Zoisite-sama and now he’s the one defying him? Now I’m just
confused.”
“You and me both” Masaki snapped irritably, “So what am I
supposed to do about it?”
Again Taro shrugged, “What do you want to do?”
“I don’t know.”
“Great start, Masaki-kun.”
“Thanks, but I did phone to get your opinion” Masaki
pointed out.
Taro sighed, “I don’t know. Everything has been so messed
up lately. Why don’t we just wait and see what happens?”
“That’s your advice?”
“Look. What do you want me to do? We all have different
opinions. Kisho and Zoisite-sama want to take the Ginzuishou from the Princess,
Mamoru wants to protect the Princess and even you don’t know what you want.”
“What about you?”
Taro cast a glance over his shoulder at Mercury before
replying, “I don’t know. I feel sorry for Sailor Moon, but we can’t allow just
Zoisite-sama’s word to rule our actions.”
Masaki was silent for a minute and then replied, “You’re
right. I’m sure Mamoru will calm down and see sense.”
Taro agreed to this and quickly made an excuse to put the
phone down. When Masaki had phoned him out of the blue and explained the
present situation, Mercury had teleported in. He had been very reluctant to
discuss the mission in front of a Dark Senshi, but Taro reasoned that if he
wanted this relationship to work then he would have to start trusting her.
“I want…” Taro took a deep breath and slipped his arms
around her waist, pulling her against him as he murmured in her ear, “You. I
want you.”
As he said this, Taro leaned down and pressed a kiss to
her lips. It didn’t matter what anyone thought. It didn’t matter how wrong
anyone else may say it was, it felt right to Taro and this world was not the
same as the world in the past. The past life was a life that Taro no longer
remembered. If they were to stop the past from repeating then they would need
to do things differently.
No matter how wrong it may be, Taro knew he loved the girl
in his arms. Taro also knew just how many problems they would face, but he
suddenly didn’t care. This was what he wanted and nothing could change that…
nothing.
“Have I come at a bad time?” she asked as he set the phone
down.
“No” Taro shook his head, secretly pleased to see her, but
he suddenly felt so awkward around her. Kanaye and Michi were out for the evening
so Taro was alone. He hadn’t made any plans and when Masaki had phoned he had
thought that they could hang out, but when his friend filled him in on the
current situation he decided against it. Taro wondered what Kisho’s take on
this was and mentally winced. Kisho hated Zoisite-sama, but he wouldn’t exactly
be jumping for joy at the latest turn of events either.
“Are you okay?” Mercury asked softly when she saw the
preoccupied look on Taro’s face.
“I’m fine” he nodded, “Just some problems with the mission
that is all.”
“You don’t know who to serve” Mercury replied to this as
she sat down next to Taro on the sofa, “You don’t know who your true Master is…
I feel like that sometimes and I know Venus--”
“I don’t have a Master” Taro snapped irritably, “We have
our own free will in this world.”
Mercury shrugged and wrapped her arms around him in a
silent apology and said nothing more, but her words rattled Taro somewhat.
Deep down, Taro knew that she was right.
*****
“The Ginzuishou will remain with Sailor Moon.”
“I cannot allow that. Step aside.”
“Or what? Will you fight me?”
“If I have too”
Seiichi slammed the hotel room door with such a force that
it caused him to wince at the crash it made. Even Artemis jumped slightly as he
slumped down on the bed, one hand pressing against his aching temples as he
thought back over the events of today. In short it had been a disaster.
“What the hell do you think?” Masaki hissed, “I’m tired of
your little games, Seiichi-kun. Do you know why I’m here? Mamoru-kun sent me.
Don’t worry, he doesn’t know who you are but he knows that I know. Why can’t
you just tell them who you are? I am sick of being the go-between!”
“You know I can’t do that. If Queen Beryl--”
“Queen Beryl, yes. Why does she hate you so much? Why did
you and the Princess destroy the planet?”
“Masaki--”
“No. No excuses this time. Just answer the questions. Even
just one would be a start. They don’t trust you and even Mamoru is getting sick
of defending your actions. Do you really want them to turn on you?”
Seiichi sighed, “Okay.”
Seiichi didn’t want the Shitennou to hate him, but he knew
whilst there were so many unanswered questions this was in inevitable. He had
hoped that by telling Masaki some things and by making Chiba-san the leader… he
sighed. It would seem that Chiba-san no longer wanted that burden.
“Very well” Zoisite turned away with a flip of his cape,
“Jadeite. You lead.”
Seiichi winced at the recollection of his tone of voice,
very much aware of how he sounded, how he acted around them. No wonder they
resented him and he couldn’t really blame them.
“Daijobu?” Artemis asked softly as he jumped up onto the
bed beside his charge.
Seiichi shook his head, still feeling slightly nauseous as
he did so, “I’ve messed up” he admitted, “They no longer trust me and I can’t
really blame them. What kind of Prince am I if I have them at each other’s
throats half the time? What the hell I am supposed to do now that Chiba-san no
longer wants to be leader?”
Artemis frowned, making his annoyance at the situation
clear, but offered no words to this effect and for this Seiichi was glad. The
plushie had been acting strange ever since Venus regained her memories of the
past life, Seiichi thought to himself. The cat had been softer with him as
though he was struggling with something else as well. Seiichi had to admit that
wasn’t resenting Artemis’s presence as much as he used too. Over time an uneasy
truce had formed between them and Seiichi didn’t really mind this. He had
enough to deal with without worrying about Artemis, too.
“What are you going to do?” Artemis questioned, “Wait for
Mamoru to--”
Seiichi shrugged, “I shouldn’t allow the present to hinder
the mission. I had wanted the Shitennou to get to know each other in this life
so that they may work together better as a team, but it would seem that they
now care more for the present than they do the past life. They don’t seem to
understand that nothing in this life matters. We were reborn to stop the past
from repeating itself and nothing more. Out of all of them Kunzite understands
this the most.”
“They won’t like it” Artemis warned him, “Especially
Mamoru.”
Seiichi bit his lip, struggling to assuage some of the
pain that came with his next statement, “Nothing in this life matters. I had to
accept that a long time ago, Artemis ”
“That may be” the plushie replied, “But that doesn’t mean
that I shall not hold you to your end of our bargain.”
“I gave my word, didn’t I? We will free Venus completely
from the Dark Kingdom.”
Artemis nodded, satisfied, and jumped down from the bed,
even as he replied, “And I will hold you to that.”
******
For once Beryl was alone in her throne room, having
dismissed Dark Jupiter a little while before. Despite the recent setbacks, the
Queen was not worried about her mission. Metallia was awakened and with the
Ginzuishou giving her strength it would not be long now before she was back to
full power. Already, Beryl could sense the Great Ruler’s ambitions taking form
on Earth. She would just have to be patient, or so she told herself.
Queen Beryl was not known for her tolerance and already
she feared dissention. Dark Jupiter only cared for Metallia and nothing more.
Dark Mercury’s loyalty was useful, but the blue haired girl spent too much time
thinking and lacked the viciousness that Beryl needed right now. Dark Mars
cared only for leadership of the Senshi. This could prove useful, Beryl mused
to herself. After all, Mars could be manipulated if Beryl promised to give her
what she desired. Dark Venus was a problem and yet at the same time an
advantage. Now that she had her memories back she would try to forge a path
with the Princess rather than the Dark Kingdom. When this happened, Beryl could
use it as a way of getting to the Princess.
The Princess… Beryl snarled in hatred at the mere thought
of her. Yet the fact that the Prince and Princess fought for different sides,
gave her some satisfaction. Indeed, Beryl had enjoyed watching the pained look
in Sailor Moon’s eyes when Zoisite turned on her. The Princess was suffering
and Beryl still relished the look in her eyes all those years ago when the Dark
Kingdom snatched her Senshi from her side.
Again, a shift in Metallia’s chambers caused the red
haired Queen to become distracted from her thoughts. Metallia gave a rasping
sigh and then quietened once again, but Beryl’s shadow could sense the power
shift. It would seem that Metallia was bent on causing trouble for the Princess
and Shitennou. This suited Beryl just fine. Her shadow had her own vendetta to
repay. Turning back to her crystal, Beryl waved her hand across it, conjuring
an image of the forming Youma. She would watch the battle… it could prove quite
interesting.
******
“The Ginzuishou” Zoisite repeated, “Give it to me.”
“No. I need it to save my Senshi!” she refused and backed
away in confusion and fear.
“You do not know its true powers.”
Sailor Moon shook her head; “I won’t use it for anything
bad. I just want it to help my friends.”
“I need it to save my Senshi” Venus whispered out loud as
she recalled Sailor Moon’s words. Even after all this time her Princess was
willing to forgive her. Her Princess’s heart was good as it had been in the
Silver Millennium. Yet the Prince was right, her heart was good, but weak. All
her good intentions could result in the same disaster that befell the planet
before… unless her Senshi once again returned to her side. Venus nodded to
herself, making her decision.
******
Dark Venus found Tsukino Usagi easily enough. The
pigtailed girl was on her way to school and, it would appear, was going to meet
another girl along the way. Venus couldn’t allow this as she wanted to talk to
her Princess alone and quickly cast out a teleport to take them to the Ueno
Park. The park was still closed to visitors, but this suited Venus’s purpose.
It meant that they would be able to talk undisturbed.
As soon as she reappeared, the Dark Senshi dropped to her
knees before a stunned and terrified Tsukino Usagi. The Princess jumped back a
few steps, her hand clasping tightly around the locket, until she saw this act
of submission and she started to relax slightly.
“Venus?”
“Princess” Venus spoke slowly, allowing her gaze to meet
Usagi’s “I have made my decision. I will fight with you once more.”
“Really?” tears sprang into the Princess’s eyes as Venus
uttered these words and she stunned the blonde Senshi by kneeling down and
throwing her arms around her, “I’m so glad.”
Venus stood, awkwardly freeing herself from this
child-like embrace “Princess. You must be strong. The Dark Kingdom is growing
ever more powerful. Queen Beryl will stop at nothing to obtain the Ginzuishou
and--”
“The Prince” Usagi broke in softly, “My Prince.”
“No!” Venus shocked both herself and the Princess by
grabbing a hold of Tsukino Usagi’s shoulders and shaking her, a little roughly,
“You must stay away from the Prince! If you don’t--”
“Our love destroyed the planet” Usagi replied bitterly,
“But there is no need to worry about that in this life” she bit her lip before
adding, “I think he hates me.”
Venus sighed, trying not to let the relief into her voice
as she answered: “You had the same mission; to find the Ginzuishou. He must
remember the past life, too. It is possible he is trying to save you from ever
using it.”
Usagi nodded sadly, “I know, but I’m not even sure if my
feelings for him are--”
She broke off as movement in the trees caught her
attention. Usagi gasped as the shadows took form before her eyes and slowly
made their way out of the trees towards her.
“Youma?” she whispered as the seven or eight creatures
appeared. They were all identical in shape and feature. They walked stooped and
almost floated toward them. Their skin was brown and withered like the bark of
a dying tree. Their bodies were draped in black cloaks, which were torn and
caught on the ground as they moved. From what Usagi could see of their faces, their
features were also exactly the same.
Their eyes were sunken into their heads and their mouths turned upwards
into feral sneers as their gazes locked upon their victims.
One lunged at Usagi, a thin, skeletal hand reaching for
the young Princess. She shrieked and jumped backwards even as Venus leapt
between them.
“Venus love-me… chain!”
The weapon struck the Youma in the chest and it was sent
sprawling backwards, yet two more replaced it.
“What are they?” Usagi whispered as she felt the locket
round her neck start to pulse. It started to shine and Usagi flinched at the
brightness and even went as far as covering it with a hand. The Youma, too,
sensed this reaction and stepped nearer again.
“Princess! Transform!” Venus cried as she landed a
well-placed kick to one’s stomach, before lashing out again with her chain.
“No” Usagi refused, feeling the colour draining from her
face as she spoke these words. If she transformed then the Ginzuishou would…
would what? Usagi didn’t know. She only understood that to transform would be a
foolhardy move. But Venus was losing. Usagi cried out as the Youma struck again
and again from all sides. Venus cartwheeled to safety and then fought back, but
they were behind her, too. One slammed into her back, whilst another caught her
a blow round the face. The Senshi shrieked as she hit the dirt, and Usagi cried
out when she saw blood trickling from her lower lip.
“Princess!” Venus commanded as the Youma now turned their
attention to Usagi once again, “Run!”
She struggled to her feet as she said these words, but the
fatigue was clear in her eyes. As she said these words, one Youma turned. It
held up a frail and gnarled hand and magics shot from its palm, striking Venus
in the chest. She flew backwards, slamming into the nearest tree and falling to
the ground.
“Venus!”
Usagi took a deep breath and raised her hands above her
head as she called out her transformation sequence. She felt the Ginzuishou
strengthening as she spoke the words:
“Moon prism pow--”
She almost choked on her words as a hand clasped tightly
around her left wrist, forcing her to stop.
“Zoisite?” her heart fluttered in her chest as she stared
upon her Prince and Usagi couldn’t help but blush furiously as he let go of her
wrist and his gaze darted to the locket around her neck. Self-consciously,
Usagi raised a hand to shield it from him, a part of her fearing that he would
take it.
“The Ginzuishou is affected by the heart of the wielder.
You have a weak heart and will only bring destruction to this planet.”
She flinched as she recalled his words, but the sharpness
of them was quickly replaced by a different anguish in her heart as Usagi heard
Venus’s cry of pain once more.
The Ginzuishou’s shine had died and now all Usagi could
think of was rescuing her friend from the attacking Youma. Each time the blonde
Dark Senshi stood they would attack again, knocking her to the ground. She was
weakening…
“Zoisite…” Usagi trailed off, almost afraid to ask him for
help, but what else could she do? If she didn’t then Venus would…
She needn’t have asked and this made it worse somehow when
he drew his sword, striking the nearest Youma, the weapon stabbing deep into
its back. Usagi saw Venus’s almost grateful smile as the creatures turned away
from her and now focused on the white haired Prince.
Again, Usagi contemplated transforming, but Zoisite shouted
at her not too and she, instead, ran to Venus’s side.
“Daijobu?” she whispered and then adding, “I’m sorry, this
is all my fault.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Princess.”
“But you could have been killed and now…” Usagi trailed
off and glanced back up at the battle continuing around her, “I have to help…”
“Princess--” Venus broke off when she saw that Usagi was
not reaching for her locket and instead knelt down and her right hand closed
around a fallen tree branch.
Quickly, and ignoring the worried cries of her friend,
Usagi ran to the battle, coming to a standstill behind one of the Youma.
“Hey, Youma!” she called and when it turned around to face
her she swung the tree branch. It connected with the stunned beast’s face and
it fell to the floor, where it disappeared. Usagi blushed again when Zoisite
met her gaze and smirked slightly before turning his attention back to the
battle.
Smiling, Usagi gripped the branch tighter as she faced
another Youma. It was a silly way for her to fight; yet it felt strangely
comforting at the same time.
******
“I think it’s broken” she whimpered and then looked up at
Usagi as though noticing her for the first time. Tears spilled down her cheeks
as Mio asked painfully, “Usagi-chan? Why did you leave me?”
“Leave you?” Usagi repeated dumbly.
Mio nodded sadly and a sob escaped her, “You ran off and
left me when that… that creature attacked me.”
“Usagi-chan? Is this true?” Naru asked softly.
“No…I didn’t run away,” she mumbled in the end.
“You did, you did” Mio accused, her lower lip wobbling
dangerously, “Just because you hate me.”
“Usagi doesn’t hate you” Naru assured her with a smile as
she helped the other girl to her feet, “And if Usagi says that she didn’t run
away then I believe her. I don’t know why you think Usagi-chan doesn’t like
you, Mio-chan.”
“Naru-chan, thank you”
Kuroki Mio scowled as she saw the brown haired girl
waiting faithfully just outside the O*SAP fashion studio for her pigtailed
friend. Tsukino Usagi… the Princess… in this life she had everything as she had
done in the past. She had beauty, a family, friends… the Prince and what did
Mio have apart from her fame? Nothing. She had nothing and now she was
determined to make sure that Tsukino Usagi paid for it.
At first Mio thought that she could do this subtly. That
she could, one by one, steal Usagi’s friends away from her and force her to
feel the same outcast that Beryl had done in the old kingdom. That would have
worked had it not been for Osaka Naru. Usagi’s best friend refused to believe
that she could do anything bad like leaving Kuroki Mio to the Youma.
Usagi obviously cared about Naru as much as she did the
Senshi. The Senshi could wait. Naru had made herself a very nasty enemy and Mio
intended to let her know just how nasty she could be.
“Naru-chan!” she called, forcing the furious scowl on her
face to melt into a smile as she ran up to the other girl.
“Mio-chan, ohayo!”
“You’re going to be late for school,” Mio said with
another false smile. “Do you want to get a lift with me? My limousine is just
around the corner.”
“No thank you” Naru shook her head, “I’m waiting for
Usagi-chan, though she is awfully late” she trailed off and looked glumly at
the ground.
“Perhaps she is sick?” Mio suggested, “My limousine has a
telephone inside it. We can call her on the way and if she’s just late my
driver can go to her house and we can pick her up, too.”
“Really? I don’t want you to go to all that trouble just
for us and I’m sure Usagi-chan wouldn’t want that either.”
Mio beamed and linked arms with the brown haired girl as
she began to lead her in the direction of the ‘limousine’.
“Believe me, Naru-chan, it is no trouble… no trouble at
all…”
*****
“The Ginzuishou will remain with Sailor Moon.”
“I cannot allow that. Step aside.”
“Or what? Will you fight me?”
“If I have too”
“I think you were right about Zoisite-sama” Mamoru
mentally winced as he said these words and held his breath as he awaited
Kisho’s reaction.
Instead of taking the shorter route across town, Mamoru
had happened to walk past the local community centre in the hopes that he would
happen to bump into Kisho on his way to his karate class. Of course Kisho knew
full well that this wasn’t the case and Mamoru expected that he was going to
get the ‘I told you so’ speech from his friend.
He was very surprised, however, when Kisho said nothing of
the sort and instead answered: “What has he done?”
“He tried to take the Ginzuishou from Sailor Moon. I
stopped him.”
“Because you don’t trust him?”
“No, because I couldn’t let him take it. She needs it to
save her friends. Zoisite was supposed to love her so much in the past life
that it destroyed the planet and I don’t see that love now, Kisho. I just don’t
understand--”
“Perhaps he’s learnt from his mistakes.”
“I had thought of that, but…”
“But?”
“He’s so secretive as you said. I’m tired of leading when
I’m leading blind all the time.”
“And you told him this?”
Mamoru nodded, “What else could I do?”
Kisho sighed, “Despite our differences of opinion we are
still the Shitennou, Mamoru-kun. Just because I do not share your views does
not mean that I don’t respect them. I think, if we work together, we can find
some middle ground on this.”
Mamoru was genuinely stunned at Kisho’s response. He had
expected his friend to be angry still and he wouldn’t have blamed him. Kisho
alone could remember what the Prince and Princess did and those memories must
be terrifying and, in all truth, Mamoru valued Kisho’s opinions. The older man
was the only one of them whom Mamoru really felt that he could confide in about
his leadership difficulties.
“Middle ground” Mamoru repeated with a smile, “I would
like that. I hate us arguing among ourselves.”
Kisho nodded and grudgingly admitted that he also hated
fighting, but quickly added that it didn’t mean that he was going to trust
Zoisite-sama either. Mamoru knew that he couldn’t expect anymore from his
friend than this and was content to let the matter be.
“I suppose I should inform Masaki-kun that there is no
need for him to be leader” Mamoru added, struggling to hide an amused smile at
the memory of the shock and horror upon his friend’s face when Zoisite-sama
announced whom the new leader would be.
“You should” Kisho replied wryly, “And we know how
disappointed he’ll be.”
Mamoru laughed, the weight of the last few days was
finally lifting from his shoulders, but, of course, this did not last.
The two friends sensed the Youma aura at the same time.
Mamoru shivered as he felt the same darkness taint the air, but this time it
was different somehow. The aura was oppressive and seemed to linger… clinging
to the air itself.
Mamoru was slightly surprised that he had sensed it so
quickly when usually he had to wait for one of the others to point out the aura
to him. Still, he was unable to focus exactly on where the aura was coming
from.
“Ueno Park” Kisho confirmed, already taking a step in the
park’s direction.
“Ueno Park?” Mamoru repeated, wondering why all Youma seemed
to congregate to that park alone.
Kisho shrugged and started off down the road at a fast
walk and Mamoru had to jog to catch up with him.
As luck would have it the Ueno Park was not that far away
and they made it there within ten minutes. As they arrived, Mamoru saw Masaki
and Taro already outside the park gates; transformed and, of course, Kisho
quickly followed suit. Mamoru did as well, but the park was still closed after
the incident a few weeks ago and Nephrite pointed out the iron padlock keeping
the gates closed.
“We could get some bolt cutters?” Nephrite suggested.
“Or just teleport in” Jadeite added, causing the red
haired king to turn a shade of crimson that almost matched his fiery hair
colour.
“Mamoru can’t teleport,” he pointed out, as though this
oversight had simply been to save his friend face. Or perhaps it had been,
Tuxedo Kamen mused to himself, but he didn’t have much time to think about it
as Kunzite drew his sword, raising the blade above the padlock and then
bringing the weapon down hard on it.
Tuxedo Kamen expected it to do no good, but the blade cut
as easily through the lock as a knife through butter. Kunzite smirked slightly
and pushed open the gates.
Nephrite quickly followed the older king into the park,
but Jadeite paused slightly as though wanting to tell Tuxedo Kamen something
but then changing his mind. Instead he hurriedly followed the other two Tennou
and Tuxedo Kamen went after them, pausing briefly to pull the gate too again.
*****
“Very well. Jadeite. You lead.”
Masaki hadn’t slept that night. He had tossed and turned
replying the scene between Zoisite and Tuxedo Kamen over and over again. Of
course, his insomnia wasn’t helped by the fact that Haru had completely trashed
their lounge and kitchen.
Unexpectedly, Tori had been called away to look after a
sick relative – some great Aunt whom Masaki had never met – and Haru hadn’t
like this… he hadn’t liked it at all.
This was the reason that Masaki had teleported back into
the hospital at 8.30am with the intention of confronting Seiichi again. He was
feeling angry. Angry at Haru for getting drunk and making his mother’s life a
misery. Angry at Tori for leaving at such short notice and most of all he was
angry with Seiichi for putting the leadership of the Shitennou on his
shoulders.
Masaki had thought that he understood where Seiichi was
coming from and now… he just didn’t know anymore.
Which was why, when he was shown to Tetsuya’s room by the
on duty nurse, he was alarmed to find that Seiichi wasn’t there. Of course, it
was early, but Tetsuya seemed to think that Seiichi was going to give him a
call before going to the television studio for an interview he had at 9.00am.
“He might have forgotten” Masaki suggested, but Tetsuya
shook his head and replied:
“I rang the hotel from here. According to the receptionist
he went out pretty much in a hurry.”
“So he went to the studio early?”
Tetsuya frowned, “I don’t think that was it.”
Masaki shrugged, “What else could it be?”
Tetsuya now appeared uncomfortable as he said, slowly,
“What about that other commitment he has? Could that have something to do with
it?”
Masaki frowned, unsure of just what exactly Tetsuya was
referring too.
The manager shrugged, “I could be wrong, but I worry about
him. More than I’m supposed too I know, but he’s like a son to me.”
Masaki nodded, “He mentioned that once.”
“He did? He told you about Zinan?”
“He didn’t tell me his father’s name. Only that he was
dead.”
“Seiichi took his death hard, not that he’ll ever want to
admit to it. He’s not as strong as he appears.”
“I have to agree there.”
“What do you mean?” Tetsuya asked sharply. His tone was so
abrupt that Masaki couldn’t help but reply:
“He had a panic attack yesterday. He said it happens
whenever he gets stressed out about his work.”
Tetsuya shook his head, the concern clear in his eyes,
“Seiichi doesn’t have panic attacks, or at least not as far as I know and he
rarely worries about his music. His other commitment on the other hand…”
Masaki wanted a chance to absorb this new information and
what it might mean, but, all of a sudden, he was anxious to get out of the
hospital and find the others. Already the air was heavy with the Youma aura
that he was familiar with and Masaki was sure that Seiichi must have sensed it
too.
“I have to go,” he said, taking a step towards the door,
“If I see Seiichi I will tell him to come and see you.”
Tetsuya nodded, knowing that Masaki was not going to say
another word on the subject.
Masaki smiled and left the room slowly, but broke into a
run once he had shut the door.
Once out into the street the Youma aura was much stronger
and seemed to be coming from the direction of Ueno Park. Disturbed by Tetsuya’s
words, Masaki continued to run, pushing his way through the steady stream of
commuters and school children as he raced towards the park.
“He didn’t tell me
his father’s name. Only that he was dead.”
“Seiichi took his death hard, not that he’ll ever want to
admit to it. He’s not as strong as he appears.”
“Seiichi” Masaki whispered under his breath, “What the
hell are you up too?”
“Hey, Masaki-kun!” a familiar voice caused him to skid to
a halt, just outside Ueno Park’s gates.
“Taro-kun. You sensed it too?”
The taller man nodded and hurriedly transformed as the
aura quickly became stronger. Masaki followed his lead, already unsure of what
to do or say now that he was supposed to be the leader.
Thankfully at that moment Mamoru and Kisho turned up.
After they had transformed a small exchange about how to
get into the park ensure, which Kunzite quickly dealt with by cutting through
the padlock with his sword. Kunzite was also the first to enter the park,
taking the lead, and for this Jadeite was glad. Did Kunzite do this
deliberately so that he didn’t have, too? Jadeite wasn’t sure, but he was
grateful all the same.
It didn’t take them long to find the source of the Youma
aura, yet the scene was not as any of them had expected.
“Zoisite-sama?” Tuxedo Kamen whispered in confusion, when
his gaze locked upon the scene before them. There must have been about six or
seven Youma surrounding their Prince, Tsukino Usagi and Dark Venus. Dark Venus
was on the ground, seeming in pain, and Tsukino Usagi was knelt down beside her
watching the battle with a pained look on her face.
Jadeite, like the other Tennou, was having trouble
accepting that Zoisite-sama was now defending Tsukino Usagi when only the day
before he had wanted to take the Ginzuishou from her. Why wasn’t Usagi
transformed? Surely she would want to help her Prince? And why was Dark Venus
here?
Tuxedo Kamen broke the standoff between them. Without
hesitating he raced between Zoisite-sama and two of the Youma. Nephrite was next,
drawing his sword and slashing at the nearest one, his blade cutting into the
creature’s side and causing it to fall to the ground. Jadeite and Kunzite also
entered the fray and for a while Jadeite lost sight of his friends in the midst
of swirling Youma and the clashing of swords.
But the tide was turning. As Jadeite paused the catch
breath, he saw Nephrite grab a hold of the remaining Youma. Angrily, he hurled
it into the nearest tree. The creature screamed as it slammed into the wood,
before falling to the ground. As it struck the grass it started to disintegrate
before their eyes.
Jadeite turned back to his friends. His gaze sweeping once
over Usagi as she helped Venus to her feet. The Dark Senshi smiled gratefully,
once, at Zoisite-sama before teleporting away despite Usagi’s pleas for her to
come back. Jadeite looked away again, as Tuxedo Kamen gasped and jumped
backwards slightly, almost knocking into him.
“Youma! Again!” Usagi cried out in shock as this newest
enemy struggled to its feet.
“Where did that thing come from?” Jadeite demanded,
searching around for the source of this Youma.
“It fell out of the tree when Nephrite threw the other
Youma into it” Kunzite explained.
“A tree Youma?” Nephrite quipped before drawing his sword
again. Jadeite and Kunzite followed his lead, but Zoisite-sama appeared to
hesitate slightly. Jadeite paid him little heed as the Youma prepared to
attack.
******
Usagi had never felt so bad in her life as she watched the
Shitennou and Prince defending her. She didn’t want this… She hadn’t meant for
things to be like this! All she could do was comfort Dark Venus as the battle
finally turned in the Tennou’s favour.
As the last Youma fell, Dark Venus struggled to her feet.
“Matte!” Usagi cried.
The blonde Senshi smiled softly, “Princess… I must return
to the Dark Kingdom.”
“Why?” Usagi asked desperately, “What is there for you
there?”
Venus’s eyes saddened for a moment as she replied: “My
friends. Mercury, Mars and Jupiter have to be freed, too.”
“Together we can--”
“No. It would be better for you if you didn’t fight,
Princess. The Prince is right. Please leave the fighting to the Shitennou.”
“But--” Usagi protested weakly as she recalled Zoisite’s
words.
“The Ginzuishou is affected by the heart of the wielder.
You have a weak heart and will only bring destruction to this planet.”
Did Venus think the same as the Prince? That couldn’t be…
could it? Usagi turned away as Venus teleported and her gaze locked upon the
beast on the ground before them.
Usagi gasped as she recognised the Youma, though now it
was daylight she could see it properly. Though it stood on two legs, it
reminded Usagi more of a wild animal than humanoid. Its body was covered in
long shaggy dark brown fur, though its arms were coated in what seemed to be
metal steel plates. It’s from the ends of its fingertips sprouted long knife
like fingernails, which were tinted silver, even in the daylight. Its feet were
like talons and they gripped the ground, cracking the concrete as it walked
towards them. Its face was the only thing vaguely human about it. Its skin was
a milky white, a stark contrast with its blood red eyes. It had no nose that
Usagi could see and its mouth consisted mainly of teeth, no lips. Its ears were
pointed and twin horns twined the top of its head. Brown hair cascaded down its
back in a tangled mass that had various leaves and other debris entangled in
it. Yet the feature that captivated Usagi most was a large scar that marred the
armour on its right arm, near the shoulder. She flinched slightly as it stared
directly at her, as though angered with her for gazing upon it. Usagi wondered
if she had done that, but the injury was curved ever so slightly so there was
no way that her Moon Tiara Boomerang could have inflicted such a wound.
“Youma! Again!” Usagi shouted and pointed at the creature,
knowing full well how stupid this statement sounded, but she was afraid. That
Youma had been strong… too strong… she didn’t like this.
It would seem that the Shitennou sensed this, too, though
as they quickly stepped between their Prince and this newest threat. For what
seemed like an age, neither party moved. Usagi’s gaze stayed upon the features
of the Youma. Again she debated transforming, but Venus had told her not too… there
was a reason for this… Usagi bit her lip, but how could she watch this?
Kunzite broke the stalemate, raising his weapon and
charging it with his magics, he slashed out at the Youma. It stumbled slightly,
barely seeming to feel the attack. Kunzite’s eyes widened in shock and he
attacked again, this time attempting to strike it with his sword. The Youma
snarled and blocked the attack, sending the black haired king sprawling back
into Tuxedo Kamen and Jadeite. All three hit the ground, dropping their weapons.
Usagi gasped softly as Nephrite stepped in front of Zoisite, but the Youma, to
their shock, turned away.
“It’s leaving?” Usagi murmured, “Why?”
“To gather energy,” Kunzite answered, managing to scramble
to his feet as the Youma started to bound away. Conjuring a ball of red energy
he hurled it in the direction of the creature. Kunzite had the element of
surprise as the Youma screamed in pain and fell, collapsing onto its knees.
Kunzite, spurred on by this, attacked again, this time with his sword. Again
and again he slashed at the fallen Youma, the blue magics striking it as it
writhed in agony.
Nephrite and Jadeite raised their weapons to join in with
this attack when Usagi’s gaze happened to wander from the battle to the man
standing beside her.
“Zoisite?” she whispered as the colour slowly drained from
his face and his pallor matched that of his hair. His sword hand was shaking
and he suddenly dropped the weapon as he doubled over in pain.
“Zoisite!” Usagi shouted, trying to get the Shitennou’s
attention, even as she scrambled to the Prince’s side. Without thinking, she
wrapped an arm around his shaking shoulders, trying to steady him somewhat.
Usagi gasped softly when she looked up and saw the obvious agony in his eyes.
“Zoisite, daijobu?”
“I-I’m fine” he whispered through gritted teeth, even as
he fell further forward until he was on his knees. Usagi stumbled with this
added weight and fell down beside him. “I’m fine,” he repeated, even as his
eyes slid closed and he lapsed into a faint at her feet.
“Zoisite-sama!” Tuxedo Kamen shouted as he passed out.
Kunzite paused, the Youma forgotten and the creature
hurriedly raced away through the trees as the Tennou turned to their unconscious
Prince.
Usagi gently rolled him over onto his back, brushing a few
strands of white hair from his eyes and was stunned at how cold he was. His
breathing was coming out in short; ragged gasps and he still trembled slightly
even in his unconsciousness.
“Zoisite?” Usagi repeated, shaking him gently, trying to
rouse him; nothing.
Yet, even as she placed her hand on his forehead once
more, Usagi could see the change that was overtaking the Prince. Slowly his
uniform was fading and was being replaced by jeans and a black shirt. His hair
grew shorter and went from stark white to a dark brown.
“No way” Usagi cried out, as she realised that she
recognised the youth lying at her feet, “Komoro Seiichi?”
******
Act Twenty Nine Preview:
“Komoro Seiichi?” Tuxedo Kamen repeated softly as he
stared at the fallen youth at Usagi’s feet. The pigtailed girl leaned forward,
gently placing a hand on Komoro-san’s forehead and whispered:
“Komoro-san? Wake up.”
He didn’t and Tuxedo Kamen felt an icy stab of dread inside.
What had happened? Had the Youma…? No, he reasoned. The Youma had been too far
away from Zoisite to cause this. What was this?
~~~~~
“You should have died” Mars spoke coldly, letting her
presence be known, “Rather than come back here to live in disgrace.”
Venus looked up through a cloud of matted blonde hair,
“The only disgrace is allowing myself to serve Beryl.”
~~~~~~
“He asked me to keep it a secret. What else could I do? He
is our Prince.”
“And we’re your friends” Taro pointed out.
“What would you have done?” Masaki snapped back, “Anyway,
you know now don’t you!”
~~~~~~
“Why aren’t you in class?”
“It was cancelled” Rika said sadly.
“Cancelled? Why?”
“Usagi-chan? You mean you haven’t heard?” Mio asked
innocently.
“Heard what?”