Earth
Guardian Prince Endymion
By Senshi
of Ruin and Mizu no Senshi
Act Twenty Recap:
(Kisho’s POV)
“Zoisite. Since the past life I have sought to make you my
own. You might have eluded my Senshi, but your Shitennou cannot protect you
forever. We have one of your Shitennou, Zoisite, and, unless you give yourself
up, we will kill him.”
Ever since Ayame was turned into a Youma, I had been feeling a new kind of respect for Taro. I know we didn’t always see eye to eye, but at last I felt some sort of understanding towards him. This was why, when the Dark Kingdom captured him, I was in two minds as to what to do.
“How? How can we get into the Dark Kingdom?”
“Then we agree to her terms” Kisho said, “We’ll give her
the Prince.”
I didn’t really mean what I said. Mamoru knew as well as
the rest of us that none of us could betray Zoisite-sama; no matter what I
thought of him he was still my Prince. This didn’t mean that our decision was
any easier to make. Taro was one of us…
“You heard about Taro” Mamoru stated softly, when Zoisite
told him that there was no need for the proper decorum now.
“I did” Zoisite nodded, his voice suddenly taking on the
leadership and authority that they desperately needed right now as he added,
“Queen Beryl wants the Prince so let’s give her what she wants.”
Even I was relieved when Zoisite-sama came to us with a
plan, though I did have my own reservations about letting Sailor Moon help us.
There is something about her… I don’t like her at all and I got the impression
that Zoisite-sama didn’t either.
Sailor Moon used the Moon Wand to break into the Dark
Kingdom and we were able to rescue Taro whilst Masaki and Zoisite-sama
distracted the Dark Senshi.
“They’ve broken him,” Kunzite stated, keeping his voice
steady as he did so, “They’ve crushed his spirit.”
We managed to rescue him, but after all he’s been through…
I don’t know if he’ll recover. Mamoru thinks he needs time, but there is more
to it than that. The Dark Kingdom is growing stronger and now there is only the
three of us. For the first time I found myself wondering ‘Is it possible that
we could lose?’
******
Act Twenty-One:
“They’ve broken him. They’ve crushed his spirit.”
“No. He just needs to get out of here. Taro-kun? Taro? We
have to get you out of here. Zoisite-sama and Jadeite are distracting Beryl,
but they can’t keep her attention forever.”
Mamoru shuddered, struggling to turn off the thoughts and
memories that he replayed themselves over and over in his mind ever since they
had got back from the Dark Kingdom. Taro had been pretty badly hurt so, much
against Mamoru’s better judgement, they had taken him to the hospital. Of
course this had led to all sorts of awkward questions, none of which Mamoru or
Kisho had been able to answer. They had simply said that they found Taro and
that they didn’t know what happened. The doctors didn’t believe them, but what
else could they say? Then Mamoru had the awful task of contacting Kanaye.
Taro’s brother had been horrified at what had happened and, when Mamoru left
the hospital earlier this morning, he had still been there, waiting anxiously
for news.
Mamoru hadn’t wanted to stay. The doctors treating Taro
had been adamant that he got some rest after the blood transfusion and would
not let him in to see his friend. Mamoru hated hospitals, recalling what
happened the last time he had been in one.
Kisho had left hours ago as he had to look after Ayame and
Masaki had gone soon after. The younger man seemed quiet. He had explained that
Zoisite-sama had left after the battle ended and Mamoru felt strangely
disappointed in his Prince for doing this. Didn’t he want to see how Taro was?
The black haired man pushed open Crown’s double doors and
was instantly greeted by an anxious Motoki.
“Kanaye called me this morning and told me what happened”
he said sadly, “I feel so bad. I was so mean about Kimi-kun and all the time he
was…” Motoki sighed and slumped down next to Kamekichi’s tank, “When Kanaye
told me he had been attacked on his way home from here… I feel responsible
somehow. I shouldn’t have made him stay late.”
“Zoisite. Since the past life I have sought to make you my
own. You might have eluded my Senshi, but your Shitennou cannot protect you
forever. We have one of your Shitennou, Zoisite, and, unless you give yourself
up, we will kill him.”
Mamoru shook his head as he once again recalled Beryl’s
words, “You can’t blame yourself,” he told his friend, “I wish that I had
realised that Taro-kun was missing sooner, but we can’t dwell upon it.”
Motoki nodded sadly, “I suppose not” then his demeanour
suddenly brightened, “Is he allowed visitors yet? Kamekichi and I thought we’d
stop by later on today.”
“I don’t know” Mamoru answered honestly, “I was going to
stop by in a bit, too.”
Motoki nodded enthusiastically to this, “Perhaps we could
go together?” he suggested.
Mamoru was about to reply when he saw that Masaki and
Kisho had just arrived. Both looked as solemn as they had done when they
realised the extent of Taro’s injuries, though the desire for revenge burned in
Kisho’s eyes, even as he returned Mamoru’s polite greeting.
Then, without saying a word more, Kisho brushed passed
them and entered their meeting room. Masaki followed, pausing briefly to smile
ruefully at Mamoru.
Making a hurried excuse to Motoki, Mamoru followed his
friends into the room and shut the door behind them.
Masaki sat at the table whilst Kisho took to pacing up and
down the room. Mamoru opted to sit on the sofa, unsure of what to say when
Kisho was clearly this agitated.
Mamoru just couldn’t shake off the image of seeing Taro so
defeated… so pathetic. To see the loudest of them in such a way was simply too
terrible for Mamoru to comprehend. Just what had Beryl done to him?
“We can’t let her get away with this” he found himself
stating, causing Kisho to cease pacing.
“What?” he demanded.
“Beryl” Mamoru repeated, “We can’t allow her to get away
with what she did to Taro.”
“What do you suggest that we do about it?” Masaki
requested sullenly, “Go back to the Dark Kingdom and make her pay for it? From
what you said last night it would be impossible.”
“We have to do something!” Mamoru snapped back, “You
didn’t see the state he was in!”
Masaki shrugged, unwilling to reply.
“You are forgetting one thing” Kisho said softly, “Beryl
captured him in order to get to Zoisite. You are misplacing the blame,
Mamoru-kun. If anyone is to blame for this then it is our Prince.”
“It’s hardly Zoisite-sama’s fault” Mamoru protested, “He
helped us, didn’t he?”
“Had he given us a better explanation of the past life
then Taro might not have been hurt to begin with and, Masaki tells me, that he
didn’t even want to see if Taro was okay. What kind of Prince wouldn’t want to
see if his guardian lived?”
“He didn’t say he didn’t want too,” Masaki said
uncomfortably.
“But he implied it?”
“Perhaps.”
“Last night you were pretty sure if this.”
“I was angry” Masaki shrugged, “I think you should give
him a break, that’s all.”
Mamoru nodded, “Zoisite-sama has a lot of responsibility
as the Prince.”
“He destroyed the planet before” Kisho snapped, “Why are
you so content to follow a man who places his own heart above the welfare of
his people?”
Mamoru looked uncomfortably at the ground. There was
nothing that he could say to this. He did not recall what Kisho spoke of and
thus could not comment on it. Had that truly happened then surely Zoisite-sama
would fight to stop the past from repeating? As for the Princess…
Mamoru shook his head, “We can trust him” he decided, “And
will continue to do so until I am given sufficient reason to believe
otherwise.”
“And what about Taro?” Kisho demanded.
“I’ll talk to him” Mamoru replied.
Far from satisfied, Kisho left and Masaki went soon after.
Mamoru was slightly concerned about his latter friend. Masaki had seemed
distant and his standoffish frontage was back. He held an almost guilty air
about him and for this Mamoru was concerned. Shrugging, he tried to write it
off as Masaki being worried about Taro. They were close, after all, and Masaki
probably felt, as they all did, that he should have noticed that Taro was
missing sooner.
*******
“You should go.
You want to see how your friend is, don’t you?”
“He’s your guardian. Don’t you want to come?”
“It would probably be better if I didn’t.”
“Better for whom?”
“Seiichi-kun!”
Seiichi winced as his hand struck a wrong note and Tetsuya
ridiculed him for this. He had been trying to practice Tsuki no Jigoku all
morning. The new piece of music was haunting and difficult to play at the best
of times, but Seiichi couldn’t concentrate, not when his mind kept replaying
his conversation with Masaki over and over in his mind.
Twice that morning Seiichi had debated picking up the
phone and calling his friend. He mentally winced at how harsh he had seemed
last night. It wasn’t that he didn’t care how Kimura Taro was. In fact, the
older man’s welfare had kept him awake well into the small hours. Seiichi, in
truth, hadn’t known what to do. He did want to see how he was, but doing so
would mean de-transforming and after what Beryl had said… Seiichi knew that
this was something that he couldn’t risk… not yet anyway.
Seiichi wasn’t sure if Masaki was angry with him, which
was why he hadn’t even called to speak to him. Why should he be concerned about
what Masaki thought anyway? The Shitennou were not his friends and never could
be, not in this lifetime, Seiichi reminded himself.
When Tetsuya had announced that they had the studio booked
for that morning, Seiichi welcomed the chance to forget about the problems with
the mission for a few hours. Still… he had missed practice a lot lately and it
was beginning to show.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured when Tetsuya again expressed his
annoyance to do with this.
His manager sighed and pressed one hand to his forehead,
“You feel a little warm. Are you sure that you are fully rested?”
“Yes” Seiichi brushed his hand away.
“Are you sure?” Tetsuya started to pace up and down in
front of the piano as he spoke, “You have been distracted lately. Is it the
music? Is it getting too much for you?”
“No.”
“Then what is this? The Moonlight Sonata and Fantasy
Impromptu are much more complicated pieces and yet you play them as though
you live them and when it comes to things like this…” Tetsuya indicated the
music sheet, “Seiichi you wrote the beginnings of this piece when you were
fifteen!”
“I know” Seiichi stood up, “I just need some air.”
Tetsuya shook his head, “You shouldn’t go outside. Your
fan club has gathered again, though it might be good for you” he trailed off
when Seiichi ignored him and walked towards the adjourning door that led
through to the cafeteria. “I’m going to get a coffee,” he snapped a little
irritably at the older man.
Tetsuya sighed and called after him, “Just don’t take too
long. We’ve only got until midday!”
Seiichi took little heed of this and crossed straight
through the cafeteria and into some of the storerooms behind. Once alone he
quickly transformed and teleported from the studio.
*****
“Just hold on for a little longer… your friends are
coming…”
“Zoisite-sama… They wanted to know who he was… I couldn’t
tell them… I didn’t know…”
“None of us do, not even now. Kunzite. Let Mercury go. I
need you to help me.”
He wasn’t sure how long he had been in the hospital. Much
of what came after leaving the Dark Kingdom was a blur and even the events that
took place before that were somewhat mixed up. Taro frowned at this and shifted
slightly on the bed, causing some minor discomfort to his wounded shoulder as
he did so. Opposite the bed, Kanaye sat reading a magazine. They had not
spoken, indeed the painkillers that Taro had been given made it difficult for
him to think straight, let alone speak even if he wanted too. He didn’t want
too. What could he say? He had told his doctor that he remembered nothing after
leaving Crown and was unable to explain his injuries. The police, too, had been
to see him, but Taro had not told them any different. What else could he tell
them? Nothing, so he held his silence and they had left.
Kanaye had stayed at his side for most of the night and
when his parents had heard they wanted to get on the first plane to Tokyo.
Kanaye had persuaded them against it and Taro was glad. They didn’t understand…
how could they? How could anyone? He just wanted to be left alone.
“Get him out of my sight. I was wrong. I’m going to find a
use for him after all.”
Taro should have killed himself. Zoisite-sama had said how
terrible it would be to be taken alive and now he knew this to be true. He had
let himself break down in front of the enemy… he was weak… Taro exhaled sharply
at this thought and this caused Kanaye to look up.
“Taro-kun? Are you alright?” he asked, setting the
magazine down as he did so.
“Fine” he replied sullenly, managing to choke out this one
word.
Kanaye shook his head, “You should tell the police what
happened. Don’t you want the scum who did this to you caught?”
He looked away, unwilling to reply as shame flushed
through his cheeks. Kanaye would never have been so weak… his brother was
always so strong…
So lost in his own thoughts was he, that Taro didn’t even
register that the door to his room had opened and that Mamoru and Motoki had
entered.
“Have we come at a bad time?” Mamoru requested softly,
“The nurse on duty said to go right in.”
“No” Kanaye shook his head, “Perhaps you can talk some
sense into him, though. I’m going to get some air.”
Taro barely registered the door slamming shut which marked
his brother’s exit, until Motoki stood directly in front of him and asked: “How
are you feeling, Kimi-kun?”
Taro scowled at the sight of his employer and managed to
summon the strength to roll over onto his side, facing the wall.
Motoki obviously did not know what to make of this as he
pouted loudly and said, “What is with the sudden silence, Kimi-kun?”
“Motoki” Mamoru snapped, “Stop calling him that.”
Normally Taro would have welcomed his friend standing up
for him where the stupid nickname was concerned, but now he just felt numb.
“N-no, of course not, Beryl-sama. I merely thought… Please
forgive me. I will get rid of him for you”
“No… I wish to kill him myself. Bring him to me.”
Motoki sighed at this reprimand, but his demeanour quickly
brightened “I wanted to bring Kamekichi to see you, but they wouldn’t let him
in. It was no matter though, and did I tell you how filthy Crown has become
since you’ve been away? You must come back as soon as you are better. I feel so
bad that I never appreciated what a good job you do. I’ll have a word with my
Boss and see if we can pay you a bit more. How does that sound?”
“I suppose I should be grateful?” Taro said tiredly, “I
suppose you think I would want to waste my life in that dump?”
Motoki gasped, “Kimi-kun!”
“Just go. I want to be left alone.”
“But--”
“Motoki” Mamoru cut his friend off by saying, “Let me have
a word with him.”
Motoki must have agreed as the door slammed shut again.
Mamoru did not speak and simply placed a tentative hand on Taro’s shoulder and
forced him to roll back over. Their leader winced at the hiss of pain that
escaped Taro’s lips at this movement and he stammered out an apology.
He could feel it… his consciousness was slipping away
again… even as Dark Mercury leaned forward, her lips brushing against his ear
as she whispered softly:
“Just hold on for a little longer… your friends are
coming…”
“You didn’t have to be so rude to Motoki” Mamoru added,
disapprovingly, “He was only trying to help.”
Taro shrugged painfully, but did not speak. What could he
say to Mamoru? He was afraid that every time he opened his mouth then it would
all come pouring out… what happened to him… his weakness…
“Taro-kun” Mamoru tried again, “Please. Don’t do this. I
know you’re stronger than that. Please don’t tell me that Kisho was right. We
have to be strong. We can’t let the enemy win.”
As the metal made this contact, Nephrite was horrified to
find tears leaking from the corners of his eyes, no matter how strong his will
was he just couldn’t… he wept silently, even as the knife was removed from his
throat.
Strong? Would you be so convinced of my strength if you
knew the truth?
Mamoru sighed, knowing that he was not going to gain
anything by sitting here, “I’ll come back later on” he said, “I’ll tell Motoki
to go, that you are sleeping. Please, Taro, just…” Mamoru broke off and shook
his head, “Just be your old self again.”
Bitter tears stung at his once more as Mamoru left. How
could he just expect everything to be the same as it was before? Everything had
changed!
She didn’t have too, Taro realised sadly. Kisho was right…
there was nothing left… he felt numb inside. He was nothing but a coward and it
would have been better if he had died.
As this thought was processed, Taro became aware of
another presence in the room. Scowling he looked up and a gasp escaped him as
his gaze locked on that of his new visitor’s.
******
A crash of thunder tore through the still air of the
Kingdom, cutting Beryl off in mid-sentence. The Queen gasped and stumbled back
slightly as the kingdom started to shake and dust particles fell down from the
ceiling. Mercury fell down as the ground shuddered and groaned under this
onslaught. Venus and Mars immediately leapt in front of their Queen, to shield
her from this new attacker.
“Sailor Moon?” Jupiter questioned, but Beryl’s triumphant
laughter stopped her in her tracks.
“No… it is the awakening!”
“Awakening?”
“At last” Beryl crowned in delight, “The Great Ruler stirs
from her slumber after a thousand years.”
“The Great Ruler?” Mercury gasped in disbelief.
“Queen Metallia!” Beryl cried.
As the rumbling subsided, Mercury managed to regain her
footing and stand. Venus and Mars also stepped away from their Queen, both
glowering at each other as they did so.
“The Great Ruler…” Beryl whispered, staring almost fondly
at the darkened tunnel that had opened off from the main throne room and to the
pulsing red light coming from within, “It was she who imbued me with my powers
and set me on my true path. It was she who first gave birth to the Dark
Kingdom. Now she stirs after all these years of waiting. Our power is growing,
but she still needs energy. Dark Mars” the Senshi in question looked up in
shock as Beryl continued, “I am willing to forget your failures for now. Redeem
yourself and gather more energy for Queen Metallia. Fail and you shall answer
to her.”
Mercury trembled at this, but Mars merely reassured her
that she would not fail this time. Then, with a flash of red light, she
teleported away. The other Senshi were quickly dismissed and once clear of the
throne room, Venus voiced her fury.
“Why should Mars be given such an important mission?” she
seethed, “Is it not enough that she failed to capture the Prince? When will
Beryl learn that I, as the leader, should be handling things on Earth?”
“You seem to forget your own failings, Venus” Jupiter
pointed out, “But I am sure Beryl does not. Capturing the Prince was your
mission, don’t forget, and you blew it.”
“Lucky for us I did” Venus retorted, “The Prince and the
Princess sealed us away before, do not forget. Beryl’s obsession with him can
only lead to the same end.”
Jupiter nodded, “Then let us be thankful that Metallia’s
awakening has distracted her attention… be it only for a short time.”
Mercury was only half listening to this conversation, her
own mind drifting back to Kimura Taro and the events of the past few days.
“What… what is this?” he whispered softly and then,
realising how close she was to him, Taro struggled to pull away.
“Don’t move” Mercury commanded, not as a warning, but
simply because she was afraid that he would hurt himself more. Taro was not as
strong as he was in his Nephrite form.
He obeyed, mostly out of fear, but partly, Mercury hoped,
because he understood that she was trying to help him.
Why had she helped him? If Beryl ever found out it would
mean death… She closed her eyes and exhaled slightly as she thought of him once
more. Helping him had been the right thing to do… she felt so inside…
“Mercury?” Venus was looking at her now, “Why so
thoughtful?”
“It is nothing,” Mercury snapped, turning and walking away
from her fellow Senshi.
Nothing… she told herself… it is nothing…
******
“Zoisite-sama?” Taro whispered weakly, his throat suddenly
feeling dry as his Prince appeared before him. It was strange how all his hurt
and bitterness seemed to want to melt away all of a sudden, until echoes of
what had happened ran through his mind once more.
His trembling increased as his gaze locked upon her own.
Queen Beryl was a terrible woman. Her blue eyes were large and cold, with no
feeling in their icy depth. Her hair was flame red and curled around her
shoulders like the flames of a fire. She was not very tall, but her presence
dwarfing him, as it did the Senshi. A cruel smile flickered across her face
when Nephrite realised that he knew her. Something inside of him instantly
recognised her and loathed her, though fear was also a factor and, alone in the
Dark Kingdom, he was very frightened.
Shuddering, Taro broke Zoisite’s gaze, suddenly feeling
even more ashamed and foolish than he ever thought was possible.
“Don’t worry,” he said as he looked away, “I didn’t tell
them anything… not that I could anyway.”
This startled Zoisite somewhat and he took a moment or two
before replying, “I have to admit I am more concerned about you than anything
you might have told the Dark Kingdom.”
“What? Why would you care about me?”
Zoisite stepped closer, “You are one of my guardians” he
pointed out.
Taro almost laughed at this, “Then why didn’t you give in
to her demands?”
“You know I couldn’t have done that” Zoisite replied
quietly, “So how are you really?”
“Fine.”
“Are you sure? I know I wouldn’t have been.”
“You? You’re the Prince.”
Zoisite nodded, “And you heard what I said, that death
would be preferable. To be taken alive and come out of it ‘fine’ is incredible”
his gaze once more locked on Taro “Not to mention unbelievable.”
“I merely thought… Please forgive me. I will get rid of
him for you.”
“No… I wish to kill him myself. Bring him to me.”
“I met her,” Taro admitted quietly. He couldn’t do
this anymore… how could he lie to his Master? “I met Beryl.”
“She’s terrible, isn’t she?” Zoisite said softly.
Taro shrugged, still struggling to silence the outburst
that he could feel bubbling up beneath the sentence and failed, “I lost it,
okay? When she looked upon me… I felt like nothing. She made me feel completely
worthless” he took a deep breath, “I’d never felt like that before… so
helpless… so… pathetic…”
Zoisite did not reply to this and Taro continued:
“It is so mortifying. That I… how can I be one of your
guardians when I broke down like that? How can I be worthy of a role if I can’t
even remember the past life?”
“It is not a case of being worthy” Zoisite replied to
this, “You earned your status in the past life. That status will be reborn
every time that you are and as for your memories… it is a terrible thing… to
remember the past life.”
This stunned Taro. He had expected a reprimand at least,
in fact he cried out for one, but none was forthcoming. It was the only thing
that bothered him about Zoisite, Taro knew. The man seemed reluctant to give
them any direct orders.
“I don’t need your pity” he sniped at last. “And if you
think that you turning up here and telling me that you don’t blame me for what
happened is going to make a difference…”
Zoisite smiled slightly, “It already has.”
Taro frowned and realised that he was right. Already the
pain and humiliation seemed to be lifting. He didn’t understand… it had been so
intense…
“It is what you needed to hear” Zoisite answered to this,
“You shouldn’t dwell upon it, Taro. If you do then Beryl truly will destroy
you.”
“Zoisite-sama---”
“I’m glad you are feeling better” he cut him off and then
teleported away.
“You shouldn’t dwell upon it, Taro. If you do then Beryl
truly will destroy you.”
“Such arrogance” Taro muttered to himself, “He’s just like
Kisho…” and yet it was exactly what he needed to hear…
******
Usagi flopped down on her bed, ignoring Luna’s
disapproving stare as images of the day before and her dreams of the past
flashed through Usagi’s mind. Tuxedo Kamen… Motoki was Tuxedo Kamen? Of course,
it all made sense now, Usagi realised. Why else did Kimura Taro work in Crown?
Why else did Tamura Kisho and Ueda Masaki constantly hang around the karaoke
parlour? She could have almost smacked herself for being so foolish. Her cheeks
burned with the humiliation of knowing that Motoki had known who she was for
all this time.
“Please, Sailor Moon”.
“Okay” she nodded, “I will…”
“Thank you”
“No! Usagi-chan! You mustn’t!”
“But… they need me to help rescue their friend” Usagi
protested, even as Luna stepped between her and the kings.
“You must keep away from them! They are the enemy!”
“Demo…”
“Please” Tuxedo Kamen pleaded, “Just open the portal. We
will do the rest.”
Usagi nodded slowly, “Luna, I’m sorry, but I can’t refuse
to help them, especially if it means saving a life.”
She had made the right decision, Usagi knew. How could she
have stood by and let someone die? She had vowed to help the Prince and that
was what she had done. She loved him… or so she had done… long ago…
“Luna” Usagi rolled over to face her friend, “Please don’t
be mad at me. You don’t understand… all this fighting… How could I let him
die?”
“They are the enemy” Luna snapped back, “They seek the
Ginzuishou just as you do!”
“I know” Usagi cried, “But what about the Senshi? If it
were one of them I would have wanted Tuxedo Kamen to help me!”
“Usagi-chan” Luna whispered sadly as she hurried over to
her charge, “I’m only saying this for your own good.”
“I know” Usagi bit her lip to stop a torrent of tears from
gushing forth, “But I’m so lonely, Luna… I’m so lonely…”
Her eyes drifted shut as their lips met in a passionate
embrace. She melted against him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her heart
thumped loudly in her chest and she was sure that he could hear it… over the
loud beating of his own heart.
Usagi turned away and did not notice the almost tears in
Luna’s eyes, “Usagi-chan… I suppose it will always be this way…”
******
“Seiichi” the young pianist was met by Artemis as he
teleported back to the Okura and promptly de-transformed. Even the cat’s
fury couldn’t cut through the relief that Taro was going to be all right. If
anything happened to any of them…
“Seiichi!” Artemis repeated, hurrying towards them, “What
do you think you are playing at? Tetsuya will--”
At that moment the hotel door burst open and the man in
question hurried into the room.
“Seiichi-kun!” he was almost suffocated when his manager
pulled him into a tight embrace, “I was so worried! Where have you been?”
“I went for a walk” Seiichi struggled free, “That was
all.”
“But why leave the studio? You know your new album is
already three weeks overdue. I thought something had happened.”
“Nothing happened” Seiichi replied quietly. At least
nothing I can tell you…
Tetsuya sighed and sat down on the bed, “Seiichi, talk to
me. Is it the workload? Is it all getting too much for you?”
“No. I just wanted some air.”
“Are you feeling unwell?”
He shook his head, “I’m fine. Have you booked the studio
for tomorrow?”
Tetsuya nodded, “Will you be there?”
The suspicion in his voice was clear to be heard.
“Of course I will” Seiichi assured him, “Can you just give
me five minutes?”
“Fine” Tetsuya threw up his hands in frustration, “Just
remember we have that radio interview in an hour. I would advise against
missing it.”
“He’s your guardian. Don’t you want to come?”
“It would probably be better if I didn’t.”
“Better for whom?”
Once he had gone, Seiichi turned back to the plushie who
had been silently watching the scene unfold.
“He’s right you know” Artemis observed quietly, “Your
music is suffering.”
“What would you have me do? I thought all you cared about
was Venus?”
Artemis looked away, “I do,” he admitted, “But---”
Seiichi didn’t hear the end of his sentence. His vision
suddenly drained of all colour and started to swim before his eyes. Gasping
slightly, he slumped back against the wall, almost crying out at the burst of
pain in his head that followed this. His vision went completely and white
flashed before his eyes. For a moment or two Seiichi was completely unaware of
his surroundings and when he managed to force his eyes to open he found himself
lying on the floor, Artemis standing over him.
The pain had receded now and was nothing but a dull ache,
like the aftermath of a migraine.
“Seiichi…” Artemis shook his head, “It is getting worse,
isn’t it?”
He shrugged, managing to stumble to his feet and then over
to the bed.
“Seiichi!” Artemis snapped, “You have got to do something.
You must find--”
“Don’t you think I’ve tried? Why else did I come to Tokyo
to begin with?”
Artemis shook his head, “This could well cost you the
mission.”
“I know!”
Seiichi stood, still feeling a little unsteady on his feet
as he made his way to the door.
“Where are you going now?”
“I’m not a child, Artemis” he snapped and almost thought
he imagined the plaintive reply that followed:
“I know, but I worry about you…”
*****
“I am willing to forget your failures for now. Redeem
yourself and gather more energy for Queen Metallia. Fail and you shall answer
to her.”
Mars shuddered at her Queen’s words as she approached the
school building. It was still fairly dark, which suited the Senshi of fire just
fine. She clutched the small opaque rock tightly in one hand as she walked
around the back of the building. The best way to gather a lot of energy quickly
was to target a school. She smirked to herself, once again thinking of the look
on Venus’s face when Beryl had trusted the mission to her. She would prove her
worth as the rightful leader of the Dark Senshi yet!
“I am willing to forget your failures for now. Redeem
yourself and gather more energy for Queen Metallia. Fail and you shall answer
to her.”
Redeem herself, she would and then Beryl would see who was
truly worthy to become leader of the Senshi.
*****
“Usagi-chan! Good morning!” Usagi walked slowly along the
busy streets of Tokyo, her school bag slung over one shoulder, and deep in
thought and almost didn’t notice her best friend calling her.
“Naru-chan, good morning” she repeated the greeting
somewhat dazedly. Usagi had seriously debated ditching school today. A part of
her was desperately worried about Kimura Taro. Motoki must have taken him to
the hospital, Usagi reasoned and she wanted to go and see if he was okay.
He had looked so much in pain… those burns… Usagi winced.
She had to know if he was all right.
“Are you thinking about that boy you like?” Naru asked
mischievously as she linked arms with Usagi, thus making the decision for her.
Usagi would go to school. Perhaps afterwards she could stop by Crown and see if
anyone there knew anything?
Usagi found that she was blushing at the thought of Chiba
Mamoru and promptly ridiculed herself for it.
Instead she shook her head and enquired to know if they
had any homework from Haruna-sensei. They had, Naru replied and Usagi sighed to
herself. It looked like another detention. Her mother would not be happy.
“Don’t worry” Naru teased lightly, “I’m sure Haruna-sensei
will understand.”
“Understand?”
“That you have a lot to prepare for, what with your
wedding to Chiba Mamoru!”
“Naru-chan!” Usagi cried, and then added in a saddened
voice, “That would never happen anyway, not that I want it too, because he’s
already engaged.”
“Engaged?” Naru asked, “To whom?”
“A girl called Hina. She’s really nice” Usagi smiled
sadly, recalling the memory of their brief meeting.
“So that’s his fiancée” Usagi whispered to herself, the
happy couple scene was like a knife in her heart and for a moment all she could
do was stare. Then Mamoru saw her.
“Usagi-chan” he got up to greet her, which was very unlike
him, but, unfortunately, the fiancée did, too.
“Hello” Usagi returned the greeting somewhat shyly and
wished that she could just leave. Mamoru was now introducing ‘Hina’ to her and
the woman in question smiled encouragingly at Usagi.
Sensing that, after the introductions, Mamoru and Hina
wanted to be alone, Usagi tried to make her leave, but out of politeness Hina
asked her if she would like to stay.
“We have plenty” she coaxed, “And I really don’t mind.”
“No, thank you” Usagi shook her head, “I should really be
going. Mama wanted some chores done and---”
“Usagi, I’m sorry” Naru whispered, placing a comforting
hand on her shoulder, “I shouldn’t have said that. It was really insensitive.”
“Its okay” Usagi shook her head, “I don’t mind.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes” Usagi nodded, as they reached the school. “But I
still don’t know what I’m going to do about Haruna-sensei.”
Naru smiled, “You can copy my homework if you like” she
said as they pushed open the double doors and entered the school.
“What is she finds out?” Usagi asked.
Naru shrugged, “Just mess up a few of the sums and she’ll
never know.”
“Naru-chan, thank you--” Usagi trailed off as she looked
up. The school was silent, students and teachers lay sprawled across the
hallway, all were unconscious.
“Usagi?” Naru whispered, clutching onto her friend’s arm,
“What is this?”
“I don’t--” Usagi was about to reply when a scream at the
far end of the hallway cut her off mid sentence.
A gasp caught in her throat as she looked up and saw a
Youma standing before them, a student Usagi did not recognise was held tightly
by the throat in a talon like hand. As Usagi stared the Youma conveyed the
girl’s energy to its own body and the student slumped to the floor. Now it
moved towards them, holding a hand outstretched.
“Usagi! Run!” Naru cried, turning to leave, but the door
slammed shut and when Naru tried the handle it would not budge.
Usagi felt Naru grab her hand as the Youma approached, a
triumphant smile on its face as it realised what they did; that they were
trapped.
******
“I’ll tell Motoki to go, that you are sleeping. Please,
Taro, just… Just be your old self again.”
Mamoru walked along the pavement in a semi-daze thinking
back to his heated conversation with Taro of the day before. Yesterday morning
Mamoru had, secretly, been desperately worried about his friend and then… he
had been true to his word and had come back later on to find Taro sitting up in
bed and talking to his brother, seemingly like his old self again.
“Did my words really have that much of an effect on him?”
Mamoru mused aloud.
“You must have done” Masaki replied softly. His other
friend had called him first thing to find out how Taro was and Mamoru had been
pleased to report that he was a lot better and would be able to go home at the
end of the week provided that he rested. Masaki’s actions had confused Mamoru
somewhat. Masaki had been somewhat reluctant to visit Taro in hospital and
phoned Mamoru or Kisho for news instead and even the latter was going tomorrow
to see him. Mamoru just didn’t understand it. He thought he was getting to know
all of his friends really well and just when he thought he was getting close to
Masaki, the other man would do something like this. Mamoru didn’t understand it
at all.
“Mamoru--” Masaki started and then he cut himself off, and
paused just as they were passing the school.
“What is it?” Mamoru demanded, as he recognised the look
on his friend’s face, “Youma?”
Masaki nodded, but Mamoru had the feeling that he was
going to say something else before then.
Without thinking, Mamoru transformed and raced to the
school doors. They wouldn’t open and this set off a terrifying sense of panic
deep within him.
“Mamoru?” Jadeite questioned as Tuxedo Kamen struggled
with the door again, “Wait. Let me.”
Tuxedo Kamen stepped aside as Jadeite aimed a bolt of
purple energy at the door, blasting it off of its hinges. As it fell inwards,
Tuxedo Kamen heard a shriek from inside.
Pushing passed Jadeite, he raced inside the school and
found Usagi lying on the floor, her friend, Naru, was sprawled at her feet
unconscious. Towering over them was a Youma as Tuxedo Kamen had expected and,
even as they watched, it reached out with a clawed hand to grab her.
“Usagi!” he almost cried out, but Jadeite raced between
the Youma and the schoolgirl at the last moment, blocking its hand with his
sword. The Youma snarled angrily and lunged forwards, its other hand swiped at
the blonde, but Jadeite managed to duck this blow and break free.
Tuxedo Kamen saw his chance and ran to Usagi’s side,
“Daijobu?” he whispered softly, whilst helping her to stand.
“I-I think so” she smiled shyly, “Thank you…”
That smile… those eyes… he had never realised just how
lost he could become in those brown pools. For what seemed like an age they
could only stare at each other and then, slowly, Usagi reached up with a
shaking hand towards his mask. As she made contact with the attire, the spell
was broken.
Tuxedo Kamen looked up when he heard Jadeite’s cry of pain
and the blonde was thrown backwards into the wall. The Youma snarled
triumphantly as he hit the floor, his sword falling from his hand.
Jerking away from her, Tuxedo Kamen shouted, “Usagi,
transform!”
“Right! Moon prism power… make up!”
As she activated the transformation locket all he could do
was gaze in wonder at her transformation into the Senshi of love and justice.
Seeing it again… he shook his head as Sailor Moon finished transforming and
posed, ready for battle.
The Youma saw her and growled before rushing at her and
Tuxedo Kamen’s heart leapt into his throat, though he needn’t have worried.
“Moon tiara… boomerang!”
The magical weapon shot towards the Youma and in the
instant that it struck home the creature screamed and disappeared, leaving
nothing but a fine layer of dust in its wake.
Sailor Moon then turned back to them, as though seeking
approval for what she had done. Tuxedo Kamen nodded slightly, allowing himself
a small smile before extending a hand to help Jadeite up. The blonde seemed
grateful, but Tuxedo Kamen could see the darkened look in his eyes as his gaze
locked with Sailor Moon’s.
With a flip of his cape, Tuxedo Kamen turned to leave, but
her next words stopped him in his tracks.
“How’s your friend?” Sailor Moon called, “How’s
Kimura-san?”
“Fine” he replied curtly, suddenly on his guard around
her.
But all Sailor Moon did was smile, “I’m glad.”
Again, Tuxedo Kamen tried to leave when she added
hesitantly “Motoki?”
Tuxedo Kamen heard Jadeite trying to force back laughter
at this and he couldn’t help but turn around and say. “I fear you are mistaken…
Sailor Moon.”
“But I don’t understand. Kimura-san works with Motoki-kun.
How can he not be you?”