Earth Guardian Prince Endymion
By Senshi
of Ruin and Mizu no Senshi
Act Twenty Five Recap:
(Mamoru’s POV)
Usagi’s search for the Moon Princess came to an end
yesterday, but it was an ending that none of us could have foreseen…
As his eyes gradually adjusted to the brightness, Tuxedo
Kamen lowered his cape once more, almost desperate to see what fate had
befallen the Senshi of love and justice. His heart hammered loudly in his chest
as he took in the scene before him. Kunzite, Jadeite and Nephrite stood a
little way away, all seemed unable to move as their gazes locked upon Sailor
Moon’s form. Jadeite and Nephrite appeared to be stunned by this unprecedented
event, whilst Kunzite glared, almost hatefully, at the girl.
Sailor Moon was the Moon Princess… the Princess in my
dreams. Of course, now that I think about it, it should have been obvious from
the beginning who she was.
“Get away from
her” he snapped, and when the other man asked why, Jadeite replied in a softer
voice, “I don’t know.”
“She’s only a child, really” Tuxedo Kamen pointed out,
“And she needs help.”
“That child” Kunzite indicated her with the hilt of his
sword, “Helped destroy the planet”.
I still cannot believe it. Tsukino Usagi is going to
destroy the planet? My heart will not believe it, no matter what Kisho says.
“Did you know that Sailor Moon was the Princess?” Tuxedo
Kamen continued.
Again Zoisite hesitated before replying: “Yes.”
Our group is divided and I have to try and unite us
somehow. Kisho would kill Usagi and this terrifies me. I know we kill Youma all
the time, but Usagi is a human being. Does Kisho’s hate for the Princess
overwhelm him so that he would even contemplate killing an innocent girl?
To make matters worse Zoisite-sama knew who Usagi was all
along. Was he protecting her? After all, it was the Prince and Princess’s love
that destroyed our world before. I find that hard to believe. The way
Zoisite-sama looked at her… I just don’t know. I don’t think I can trust him
anymore. How can I when I’m in love with the girl that he sacrificed the planet
for?
*******
Act Twenty-Six:
Venus was training, as were her fellow Senshi. Her love-me
chain struck its wooden target many a times and from different angles. Mars was
to her left and Mercury to her right and Jupiter beyond her. They were
surrounded by beautiful gardens and rolling hills. The sun shone down brightly
upon them and illuminated the atmosphere in a warm and comforting glow. Venus
paused, wiping the sweat from her brow as she sensed the presence of another
person behind her. She whirled around, holding her chain in one hand as a
weapon and looked up to meet Serenity’s approving gaze.
The Princess smiled dutifully as the other Senshi turned
to acknowledge her presence.
“Princess, you startled me,” Venus admitted when Serenity
asked her if she had done so.
“You train for so long” Serenity commented, “Why not come
back inside and greet our guests?”
Venus shook her head and Serenity noted that her eyes
narrowed ever so slightly at the mention of these unwanted visitors.
“The threat of Metallia draws ever closer” Venus replied,
quietly and without much feeling, “We must keep up our strength if we are to
defend our kingdom.”
Serenity nodded sadly, “I understand. The Prince of Earth
said that his guardians also are--”
“Princess” Venus cut her off mid-sentence and Serenity
winced as her protector started to give her the same speech as before. “You
mustn’t get too close to the Prince of Earth. To do so would result in…
“Sailor Moon?”
“I’m sorry… I couldn’t save you…”
“Daijobu…”
“Venus?”
Venus gasped slightly at the ferocity of these memories.
She stood; bolting up from her seat beside the window, sweat beading on her
brow, which was quickly wiped away by a gloved hand. It had been two days… two
terrible days since it happened and her mind was in turmoil. Sailor Moon was
the Princess… her Princess. Beryl had lied to them. It was not the Dark
Kingdom Queens that the Dark Senshi had served, but the Princess of the Silver
Millennium. Sailor Senshi, Venus corrected herself. They were the four
Inner Sailor Senshi.
Sailor Moon… the Moon Princess… Venus furrowed her brow in
thought. She needed time, time to decide whose side she was truly on.
******
“The Ginzuishou’s shine has helped feed Metallia’s powers.
She grows stronger by the day and Metallia’s strength will grow with her.”
Beryl stood atop her dais, staring disdainfully down at
the Senshi before her. Dark Jupiter kept her head bowed low in respect as she
awaited her Queen’s orders. For two days, Beryl had pondered over her next
move. Surely she should strike the Princess directly and take the Ginzuishou
before Sailor Moon found out the source of its true powers? Striking the enemy whilst
they were weak seemed like the best option, but Beryl was still uncomfortable
with this.
A part of her wanted to focus her attentions on Zoisite.
Now that the Princess had been awakened it was only a matter of time before she
stole him from Beryl again. Whenever the Queen of the Dark Kingdom closed her
eyes she could picture that moment in the gardens, the moment that her heart
had broken beyond repair. Shrouded in darkness, Beryl could only see the
Princess’s face, her dark eyes silently mocking the Queen as she wrapped her
arms around the silhouette of the Prince.
Of course, Beryl knew deep down, that if she did order the
remaining Senshi to target Zoisite then the Shitennou would appear to save him
again and it would result in another failure. It would be wiser to wait a
while. Zoisite couldn’t keep his Earth identity a secret forever. One day he
would slip up and Beryl would see who he really was.
As much as she loathed it, Beryl knew she had no choice
but to target the Princess. Energy could wait. If they obtained the Ginzuishou
then Beryl would have all the energy she would ever need. She could tear apart
the planet until the Prince surrendered to her.
“Dark Jupiter” Beryl said, causing the Senshi to look up,
“Venus can no longer fight so I leave things to you. Find the Princess and kill
her and return the Ginzuishou to me.”
Jupiter stood, bowing once before replying, “As you wish,
your majesty. Come the sunset, the Ginzuishou will belong to the Dark Kingdom.”
******
When Mamoru had got Kisho’s message, requesting that he
meet them in Crown, he knew that the outcome would not be good. Mamoru had not
spoken to any of his friends since Usagi’s awakening. He had kept away from
college and, admittedly, ignored several voice messages from Taro asking him to
call them.
The truth was that Mamoru was afraid. He was afraid for
Usagi’s safety. He didn’t know if his friends were going to come after her or
not. He didn’t even want to think about what would happen if he was forced to
fight them… or Zoisite-sama.
So, for the past two days, Mamoru had been keeping an eye
on the pretty teenager. Following her, at a distance, to make sure that she was
all right.
“What now?”
“Take her home. She needs to rest.”
“What about the Ginzuishou? We can’t leave it with her!”
“We don’t know where it went. Take her home before Beryl
sends Youma to finish her off.”
“Why don’t you? You are the Prince.”
Still, Mamoru couldn’t help wonder if his fears were
unfounded. Zoisite-sama had been the one to suggest that they take her home and
he had even let Dark Venus leave the scene alive. He was not a killer, Mamoru
knew, despite how he might try and appear to them.
Was Kisho? He was certainly angry enough and, if Mamoru
was honest, he didn’t trust any of his friends at the present and this hurt
him.
Mamoru hadn’t wanted to go to Crown, but whereas he could
ignore a message from Taro or Masaki, he knew that Kisho would come looking for
him if he failed to show and if they found him staking out the Tsukino
household… well it didn’t bear thinking about.
Motoki greeted Mamoru with his usual enthusiasm and showed
him, with immense pride, the new tank that he had had bought for Kamekichi.
Mamoru allowed a half smile and enquired to know if his friends were here yet.
Motoki indicated the room that they usually met in and Mamoru entered with
baited breath, though the reception he gained was not quite as hostile as he
had expected.
Masaki sat on one of the sofas whilst Kisho had opted to
pace up and down the room. Taro was not present and this concerned Mamoru
slightly.
Tuxedo Kamen frowned. What was Nephrite doing? He didn’t
seem to be attacking Mercury at all now and she wasn’t attacking him back? He’s
probably still weak, Tuxedo Kamen reasoned as he turned his attention back to
the Senshi before him.
Mamoru hoped that Taro was all right. If he was feeling
any adverse effects from the battle, Mamoru knew he would never forgive himself
for rushing his friend into it too soon.
“I spoke to him this morning,” Kisho said, as though
guessing Mamoru’s thoughts, “He assured me that he was fine”
“I see” Mamoru nodded and then added in a louder voice,
“What is this all about? I thought we agreed to take a few days to get our
heads around what happened?”
“You agreed.” Kisho pointed out, “We
didn’t.”
“Kisho, I don’t want to fall out with you over this”
Mamoru stated softly, “But I won’t hurt Usagi.”
“I didn’t say I was going to kill her,” Kisho snapped
back, almost defensively. “The Princess gains her powers from the Ginzuishou.
If we take the Ginzuishou from her…” he trailed off when he saw the look on
Mamoru’s face. “What? Surely you don’t have a problem with that?”
Mamoru shrugged, making no effort to conceal just how
angry and hurt he was feeling, both at Kisho and Zoisite-sama. His Prince had
simply left him to take the fallout! What kind of Prince did that? Mamoru
sighed, automatically feeling bad about this. He knew the real reason he was so
furious with Zoisite-sama and it had nothing to do with the mission. Mamoru was
jealous of his Prince because the Prince and Princess were in love and Usagi
was the Princess.
Of course not, he wouldn’t have because we were there.
Instantly a wave of shame washed over Mamoru as he
pictured Hina. Hina… his childhood sweetheart. The woman he had thought he
would spend the rest of his life with. The woman that he had been neglecting
lately. She had wanted to make a start on the preparations for their wedding
today, but Mamoru had put her off. If the truth were known it was because he
wasn’t even sure that it was what he wanted anymore.
“So. Are we decided?” Kisho prompted.
“No” Mamoru stood, “We can’t take it from her. She needs
it to save her Senshi.”
Kisho scowled, “And you would cost us the mission just so
that she can have her guardians?”
“What would you do?” Mamoru demanded, “What would you do
if Beryl had brainwashed us and not the Senshi?”
Kisho was silent, not sure what to say to this.
“Why don’t we ask Zoisite-sama?” Masaki suggested. He had
been keeping quiet up until now, but Mamoru supposed, he couldn’t bear seeing
them at each other’s throats any longer.
“Ask Zoisite-sama? We don’t even know who he is!” Kisho
declared, the bitter edge to his voice easily detectable and Masaki fell silent
once again, though he cast a questioning glance at Mamoru and their leader
nodded slightly.
“We don’t even know for certain if Usagi has the
Ginzuishou” Mamoru said wearily, “Masaki is right. Zoisite is the Prince and he
should--”
“The Prince and the Princess’s love destroyed the planet”
Kisho reminded him, “Do you really want to seek council from a man who let his
own feelings end the world?”
“What else do you want me to do?” Mamoru shouted, his last
reserve of self-control slipping as he uttered this sentence, “I don’t have
powers like you all do! I didn’t even want this! I was perfectly happy being
me! You talk about this war, and about attacking an innocent girl as though it
is no big deal. Well it is, Kisho! It is!”
Kisho sprang up from his chair and approached Mamoru
before transforming and thrusting his sword in their leader’s face, “No big
deal? This blade killed the other day! Even though Dark Venus was an
enemy, do you think I wanted her dead? Do you think I wanted to hurt a girl?
The only reason I did it was because I thought that she was going to kill you!”
“Don’t try and lay your guilt on me!”
“I’m not, and I don’t feel guilty. Given the choice I
would do the same thing again. My loyalty lies with you, not Zoisite.”
Mamoru turned away, knocking Kunzite’s sword away from his
face. “Then prove it. We will wait and see what Zoisite-sama says.”
Kunzite de-transformed, his eyes narrowed in anger at this
request/challenge. “I do not trust him, or the Princess.”
“And I am not asking you to. Just give me a day or two to
sort things out. Usagi-chan is not a threat.”
Kisho nodded, “Very well. I will wait, but only for now.”
Mamoru smiled awkwardly and sat by down. The rift was
growing between them. He could feel it driving them further apart.
Mamoru sighed, wishing that he knew who Zoisite really
was. If he could just talk to him… now that his own loyalty towards his Prince
was wavering, Mamoru needed some assurance. He looked up, casting a glance at
Masaki. Masaki could tell him, in fact Mamoru was pretty sure that Masaki would
tell him if he asked, but how could he do that? How could he demand that his
friend betray their Prince? He couldn’t, Mamoru knew. All he knew was that he
would simply have to trust Zoisite.
“I think there is much that he hasn’t told us, but I don’t
think his intentions are bad if that’s what you mean. He trusted you and so do
I.”
Sighing again, Mamoru averted his gaze towards the door of
the room as it opened. Completely oblivious to the sudden tension between them,
Taro hurried into the room and asked:
“So? What did I miss?”
*****
“This is wrong. We’re supposed to be enemies!”
“I know. I know.”
“This was a mistake. It was a spur of the moment reaction.
It didn’t mean anything.”
Mercury sat on her bed, one hand gently caressing the silk
coverlet whilst her mind drifted back to the events of the Cherry Blossom
festival and the feel of Nephrite’s lips upon her own. Mercury’s heart
fluttered in her chest as the memory of the gentleness of his touch… how he had
held her… Pained, she bit her lower lip hard enough to draw blood and struggled
to blink back the tears that were forming in her eyes. He didn’t want her. She
was the enemy and nothing more.
That is not true. I saw the look in his eyes when he
kissed me. He kissed me.
“Such feelings are wrong” Mercury told herself. “If
Beryl-sama finds out…”
When we fought he had not tried to kill me. He had seemed
almost reluctant to do so. Perhaps he does…
Mercury stood, even as Nephrite’s words echoed in her mind
once more.
“If this is wrong then why does it hurt to be apart from
him?” Mercury whispered softly as she opened a portal, her mind already made
up.
“If it is so wrong… then why am I…?” Mercury trailed off
as she stepped through the portal; the portal which led to Kimura Taro’s home.
******
“You’ve grown fond of him, haven’t you?”
“No. Seiichi and I have an agreement! He will help me free
Venus and in return…” he broke off and hissed angrily, “You know how much I
hate the Shitennou.”
“You used to. I could see the loathing in your eyes when
you looked at him. Now that loathing has gone. You used to call him Zoisite and
now he’s Seiichi to you. You see him as your responsibility as I do Usagi,
whether you care to admit it or not.”
“You’ve been very quiet today,” Seiichi casually observed.
Artemis jumped slightly at being addressed in such a
manner and turned to stare upon his charge. Seiichi sat at the small desk in
the hotel room, scribbling his signature onto the cover of a CD case before
setting it down and picking up another one. Over in the corner sat the box of
fan mail, which had been neglected ever since Seiichi had come to Tokyo. The
plushie nodded towards it and replied:
“I was just wondering how long it is going to take you to
read through all that.”
Seiichi shrugged, “There are another ten bags in the
lobby. What were you really thinking? Are you still angry, because if you are
then you can leave right now? I really don’t need your superior attitude at the
moment. Yes, I realise that Venus would have behaved differently, but, in case
you haven’t noticed, I am not Sailor Venus.”
Artemis cringed at the uncharacteristic harshness of his
voice and responded with a quiet: “Are you feeling unwell again?”
Seiichi turned round to stare at him, confusion marring
his face as he studied Artemis for any signs of false sincerity. Finding none
he allowed: “A headache, that is all.”
Artemis pawed the carpet nervously and said: “Seiichi?”
“Yes?” his voice had softened slightly and Artemis stepped
closer, surprising both of them by jumping up onto the desk. The plushie was
shocked at just how tired his charge appeared and partly blamed himself for
this. Of course, with Tetsuya’s accident reminding Seiichi of-- of course he
wasn’t thinking straight!
“I was thinking,” Artemis began, “What happened… it
couldn’t have really been your fault. Neither of us could have predicted what
Kunzite would do and I know I haven’t exactly been keeping my end of the
bargain as of late.”
“I thought I told you to stop worrying about that? The
mission is what matters.”
“Seiichi! If you don’t do something soon then you
could---”
“The mission, Artemis.”
The plushie sighed and jumped back down onto the floor,
knowing better than to press the subject. Instead he said:
“I know it isn’t easy… being alone.”
Seiichi had nothing to add to this and Artemis was content
to leave the matter be. In truth he was stunned at his own words. Why was he
being so nice all of a sudden?
Artemis scowled and shook his head slightly. That couldn’t
be true… could it?
******
Taro set the phone down and sighed to himself. Kisho
wanted him to meet him in Crown and, deep down, he knew that this was a very
bad idea.
“We do as he said” Mamoru replied to Nephrite’s
questioning. “I’ll take her home.”
“Wait” Kisho, also de-transformed, stepped forward,
grabbing a hold of Mamoru’s arm as he knelt down beside Usagi once more.
“Where did the Ginzuishou go?”
“I don’t know.”
“She must have it.”
“Leave her alone!” this was Luna again as she raced
between Kisho and her Princess.
“He won’t hurt her” Mamoru assured the plushie, “We’ll
take her home, that is all.”
Something had happened to Mamoru when Sailor Moon had
awakened, Taro thought uncomfortably and, for some reason, whatever it was
filled him with dread. The Princess destroyed the world… or so Kisho claimed
and Taro believed him. He had seen how much pain his friend had been in when he
tried to get Mamoru to see this. Whatever flashbacks Kisho had been having of
the past life, Taro knew them to be terrible.
Taro also knew that the past was the past. Despite not
remembering his previous life, he had decided that it was irrelevant in this
world. The only thing that did matter was learning from the mistakes of that
past life. Zoisite-sama and Sailor Moon had to be kept apart at all costs.
Taro sighed and reached for his jacket. As much as he was
dreading this meeting, he knew that he had to go. Perhaps Mamoru would welcome
his support? After all, Mamoru’s loyalty to Zoisite-sama was what was causing
them to argue. The question was, was Zoisite really a Prince that they wanted
to call Master?
Kanaye was still at the hospital with Michi and for this
Taro was glad. His brother would have undoubtedly raised objections for him
going anywhere and, true enough, Taro did still feel a little weak, but he had
resolved that this weakness would not get in the way of the mission.
Still the silence in the house was eerie and Taro suddenly
became aware that he wasn’t alone in the room. He whirled around and came face
to face with the last person he expected to see here.
“This is wrong. We’re supposed to be enemies!”
“I know. I know.”
“This was a mistake. It was a spur of the moment reaction.
It didn’t mean anything.”
“Mercury”
“Aren’t you going to try to kill me?”
“Why? For saving my life?”
“Kimura-san” she took a step towards him and Taro,
unconsciously, moved away, almost afraid that he… that he what? That he would
hold her? That he would kiss her? That he… he loved her?
Taro shook his head. That notion was ridiculous! How could
he love her? She was the enemy!
“Why are you here?” he demanded at last, trying to keep
his voice neutral.
“I don’t know” she admitted, “I worry about you.”
“About me? Why?”
Mercury bit her lip and looked away, a blush spreading
slowly across her cheeks as she spoke, “I don’t know.”
“I helped you because I didn’t want you to die.”
She was so different like this, Taro mused to himself.
Dark Mercury was always so cold… so cruel… but since his capture… she had
changed. She now seemed almost awkward around him.
Mercury… there was something about her… something that
drew Taro to her. He leant down, cupping her chin in his hand and placed a
tentative kiss on her lips.
Mercury gasped, drawing back in shock and Taro instantly
regretted his actions until she smiled shyly and stepped forward again,
wrapping her hands around his neck to pull him into another embrace.
Of course she was awkward around him and Taro didn’t blame
her. Kissing her was the stupidest thing he had ever done and if he had any
sense, Taro knew he would leave things be.
If he had any sense…
“That day” he began, “You said you helped me because you
didn’t want me to die, but you are quite happy to attack my friends.”
“They got in my way” Mercury said, a little coldly, “And I
didn’t attack your friends. I was after Sailor Moon.”
“Your Princess.”
Mercury shrugged, “Perhaps she was. Perhaps Venus is right
and perhaps Beryl is. I do not know.”
“Why are you really here?”
“I wanted to see you.”
“Why?”
Mercury turned away, “I think you know why.”
Taro sighed angrily, “This is insane! This whole damn
thing is insane! You are my enemy! Why are we even having this conversation?”
She didn’t answer. She didn’t even flinch when Taro
stormed over to her and forced her to face him once more.
“We are enemies,” he repeated, but his words sounded
hollow to his ears.
“So you keep saying,” Mercury whispered softly. “But we
were only told that by our Masters. What do you want, Taro?”
“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.
******
Masaki was secretly glad to leave Crown with Mamoru. After
Taro had arrived the meeting seemed to go downhill. For some reason, Taro
appeared to be in a very good mood and had no desire to argue over the mission
and Sailor Moon. Hells he even laughed when Motoki called him Kimi-kun.
Just when Masaki thought he was beginning to understand
him…
Still, it didn’t change the fact that Mamoru had put him
in a very difficult position back there and Masaki was a little angry to say
the least. Of course, Masaki knew that Seiichi had to answer some of their
questions eventually, he just didn’t want to be the one to ask him that was
all.
“You will talk to Zoisite?” Mamoru prompted quietly once
they were away from Crown.
Masaki did not reply straight away. He didn’t really want
to go over to the Okura now. Haru had, had a meeting with his manager
today and Masaki was anxious to get back and make sure that everything had gone
okay. If it hadn’t, he knew that Tori would pay the price.
Thankfully the meal at the house had gone according to
plan and this follow up meeting would be nothing more than advising Haru of his
promotion… or at least Masaki hoped that this was the case. Of course, the good
humour that had come with the meal had been marred by the fact that Masaki had
gone missing for hours and had worried Tori half to death.
“Masaki?” Mamoru said, a little impatiently now, “Will you
speak to Zoisite-sama?”
“Yes” Masaki snapped, “I’ll speak to him. Just get off of
my back about it, okay?”
“Fine” Mamoru held up his hands, “But I don’t understand
your reluctance.”
“Do you think I want to give one of my friend’s the
third degree over this? Do you think I like being the go between you and
him?”
“No, I just--”
“Just forget it.”
“Masaki-kun--”
He turned away, hurriedly crossing the street and
disappearing round a corner before Mamoru could argue.
Masaki was glad to get away and was relieved when Mamoru
didn’t follow him. He didn’t really want to go to the Okura just yet,
but he still found himself heading in that direction.
“Don’t try and lay your guilt on me!”
“I’m not, and I don’t feel guilty. Given the choice I
would do the same thing again. My loyalty lies with you, not Zoisite.”
“Then prove it. We will wait and see what Zoisite-sama
says.”
“I do not trust him, or the Princess.”
Where did Masaki’s loyalty lie? If the truth were known,
he really didn’t know. Mamoru was his friend. They had been fighting together
since the beginning… all four of them had been. Zoisite was not like them. He
didn’t seem to want anything to do with the others at all and Masaki didn’t understand
why. Of course, he had given all these reasons about wanting to protect them
and keeping his identity a secret from Beryl, but Masaki had always got the
impression that Zoisite had been feeding him half-truths for a long time now.
For some reason this didn’t make him as angry as he
thought it should. Masaki sighed to himself. The four Tennou who protected the
Prince had to seem united against the Dark Kingdom. If their enemies knew of
such dissention… Masaki’s loyalty lay with Mamoru, he decided, but this didn’t
mean that he didn’t also want to hear what Seiichi had to say on the matters at
hand. After all, no matter what, Seiichi was their Prince and they had a duty
to protect him.
Duty… that was all it was, Masaki said to himself. To
Mamoru and the others they only cared about what happened to Zoisite because of
who he was in the past. Masaki felt differently. When they transformed they
became their past selves, but in the present he was Ueda Masaki just as Tuxedo
Kamen was Chiba Mamoru. Zoisite was Komoro Seiichi in this world and, despite
his unwillingness to readily admit it, when Masaki protected his Prince it was
Seiichi he was protecting and not Zoisite. Why was this? Because Seiichi was
his friend, Masaki thought a little uncomfortably.
*****
“Zoisite-sama--”
“Princess… Usagi…”
“The Prince…”
The Ginzuishou weighed heavily around Usagi’s neck like a
stone tablet as she walked slowly home from school. Naru-chan and a couple of
the other girls had recently joined a volleyball club, but Usagi could no
longer bear to think of her favourite sport. She was the Princess and her
Senshi were also her guardians and confidants. She had to find a way to
free them.
As she thought of this, Usagi’s hand unconsciously grasped
the locket that contained the Ginzuishou. The post powerful weapon in the
galaxy… the Ginzuishou had helped destroy the planet once before.
“No” Usagi whispered to herself, “I will use it for good
and to heal my friends and destroy the Dark Kingdom.”
“Brave words, Sailor Moon”
Usagi jumped slightly, whirling around to face the source
of the voice and her heart clenched when she recognised the figure standing
before her.
“Dark Jupiter…”
“You may have fooled Venus with your trickery, but I am
different. Queen Beryl wants the Ginzuishou.”
“No… Jupiter… we’re friends! You are supposed to protect
me!”
“I serve Metallia-sama and the Dark Kingdom now and my
Queen needs the Ginzuishou.”
Usagi took a step backwards, suddenly terribly unsure what
to do. She couldn’t fight Jupiter… but if she didn’t…
Jupiter’s feral grin widened as she held out a hand and
the ground in front of Usagi exploded in a flash of red light. She shrieked and
fell, feeling the locket detach from its chain and roll across the pavement.
“No!” she screamed as Jupiter struck again, and she fell
back, her cheek scraping roughly against the stone.
“Youma!” Usagi heard Jupiter command, “Bring me the
Ginzuishou and kill Sailor Moon.”
The Youma growled and stepped forward to heed these
commands. It was tall, far taller than Usagi. Its face was white, like a
porcelain dolls and held no expression. A crown adorned with feathers and
leaves sat upon its head, and more feathers sprouted from the ends of its arms
and legs. Its fingertips were blunt but when it lashed out, catching Usagi a
glancing blow round the cheek, she felt blood running down her face.
Its body was black and a yellow cloak was draped around
its shoulders. It rustled in the breeze as it moved, lunging forwards again.
Usagi shrieked and leapt backwards, silently despairing when she saw her locket
lying just metres away, so near and yet far beyond her reach.
Jupiter smiled triumphantly and then teleported away, her
job done. Usagi glanced wildly at the few passers by who had stopped to stare
at this strange display.
The Youma growled again and they ran, none stopping to
come to her aid. Usagi was partly glad of this. She didn’t want civilians
getting involved in her battle. Her battle… if she lost…
No! That could not happen! She had a mission…
The Youma struck again and Usagi hit the ground, wincing
painfully as she struck the concrete. Wasting no time, she rolled aside and
narrowly missed a third attack. Climbing to her feet Usagi cast a wild glance
around. Thankfully the few people who were around had gone. To her back was the
Okura but she was pretty sure that no one there would come to her aid.
The Youma snarled and raised a hand as Usagi’s back hit
the wall. This was it… there was nowhere else for her to go. The pigtailed
heroine winced, preparing herself for a blow that, as had happened so many
times before, did not come.
She opened her eyes, not being aware of even shutting
them, and gasped softly. She had expected to see Tuxedo Kamen standing before
her.
“Jadeite?” she whispered softly, making no effort to hide
her shock at this. The blonde had blocked the Youma’s hand with his own sword
and now pushed the demon back. It sprawled onto the concrete, snarling angrily
at this new enemy.
Again, Usagi glanced wildly around, seeing her
transformation locket lying on the ground. Jadeite and the Youma were now
fighting and all Usagi could do was watch. She, shakily, raised a hand to her
cheek and stepped back, suddenly feeling dizzy with relief. She stumbled and then
fell to her knees as the world started to spin before her eyes.
She forced herself to take a few deep breaths and when she
was able to look up again, the fight was over. The Youma squealed as Jadeite’s
magical attack struck it and it crumbled to nothing more than ash before them.
The blonde sheathed his sword and slowly walked towards
her, surprising Usagi by kneeling down at her side.
“Daijobu?”
“I-I’m fine…”
He nodded, and Usagi shuddered at the coldness of his
gaze.
She broke contact and slowly reached out to grasp her
transformation locket. During the battle it had been kicked towards her and now
lay open between them. The Ginzuishou shone brightly in the sunlight, until her
shaking hand curled around it. Usagi held her breath, expecting another fight
as Jadeite stared upon it.
Then, taking her completely by surprise, he stood and
turned away.
“Arigato” Usagi called plaintively after him. She shivered
again and slipped the locket over her head.
“Princess, surrender the Ginzuishou unless you wish to see
her die again”
The Shitennou and Zoisite wanted the Ginzuishou… so why
did Jadeite let her keep it?
She destroyed the planet… in another life… Usagi shook her
head. She had decided. She would use the Ginzuishou to save her Senshi and then
she would give it to Tuxedo Kamen.
*****
Act Twenty Seven Preview:
He smirked, “Let me guess. Mamoru-kun told you to come
here and tell me this and then tell me that it is the same with Zoisite-sama,
right?”
Taro scowled, “Well it is!”
“No. It is not. All the Prince cares for is the Princess.
He has proved this in both lives.”
“That isn’t true and Mamoru didn’t tell me to come here. I
do not like your attitude.”
“The Princess--”
“Destroyed the world and, yes, we should keep Tsukino
Usagi away from Zoisite-sama, but she needs the Ginzuishou to save her Senshi.”
“The Ginzuishou is the most powerful tool in the universe.
Are you saying that we should let her keep it?”
“I don’t know.”
Kisho stood, “Then what are you saying?”
~~~~~
“Class. Today I would like to introduce a new friend to
you” Haruna-sensei said brightly as she placed her hands upon the girl who
stood in front of the class’s shoulders.
“I am Kuroki Mio,” the girl declared and a stunned silence
befell the class.
~~~~
“What are you doing?” Venus asked softly when she saw the
doubt in her fellow Senshi’s eyes.
“Doing?”
“You look so lost… I know how that feels.”
“The Ginzuishou?”
~~~~~
“Mio-chan” Naru greeted her enthusiastically, “Did you
enjoy your first day?”
“I don’t know” the idol lowered her gaze sadly to the
ground, “I don’t think Tsukino-san likes me.”
“What? Usagi-chan? That isn’t true, is it?”
Usagi mentally flinched as Mio’s gaze once again rested
upon her, as did Naru’s. She didn’t like Kuroki Mio. In fact Usagi knew that
the intensity of her feelings bordered on hatred and she didn’t, for the life
of her, know why. Of course, she could hardly say anything with Naru-chan here
and quickly shook her head.
“No, I do like you, Kuroki-san.”
~~~~~
“Zoisite-sama, perhaps we should--” Jadeite started, but
Zoisite ignored him.
“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.”