Mars surveyed the assortment of odd characters who stood around her. She frowned thoughtfully. "Mina-san," she said, nodding to the Senshi in the orange skirt. She turned to the white-haired man who had just jumped down from the temple roof. Her brow furrowed and her lips thinned. "The person who left his calling card on my barrier." She glanced next at the wounded panther, shuddering slightly. "A demon—likely the very one whose presence I have felt repeatedly in recent weeks." Lastly, she turned to the one who had Awakened her, whose face and uniform were stained with dust and blood. "You...I have never met before. And yet, there is a familiarity about you."
"Um...look," Venus began hesitantly, "this can all be explained, really, but...maybe we should all go inside, where we won't draw any more attention? And, um, probably change back to normal." So having said, she reversed her own transformation, shifting from Venus to Aino Minako in a soft flash of golden light.
"Good call, Venus," the ponytailed Senshi echoed. A brilliant silver glow surrounded her, then ebbed; she was replaced with an almond-skinned, brown-haired girl in a normal seifuku.
Mars frowned, then nodded. In a flash of fire, the Shinto miko, Hino Rei, returned. Glancing around and scowling at the damage to the temple grounds, she gestured to the open temple doors.
"Perhaps you should phone your respective families before we begin," she suggested. "I suspect this is likely to be a very long evening."
"You mean it wasn't already?" Mina quipped. Rei shot her a cross glance, then snorted and walked inside. The others exchanged amused and/or nervous glances, then followed...
"And that is the situation," Artemis finished, sitting back and sipping his tea.
Rei contemplated him silently for a long moment. "It would be futile to attempt to dismiss this as a dream, a delusion, or an elaborate hoax, I suppose," she finally said.
"I'm afraid so, Hino-san," Usagi said gently.
The miko nodded. "One question." She turned to Mina. "Did you know, on the day you befriended me, that I was one of these Senshi?"
"Didn't have a clue," the blond replied. "Tonight took me completely by surprise." She paused, then fidgeted. "Rei...I'm sorry about your birds. I know...they were special to you."
Rei bowed her head. "They are a part of me now," she replied. "I can take solace in that. And..." She paused, then set her mouth in a determined line. "In their act of sacrifice, they have given me strength, both physical and spiritual. I will not allow their sacrifice to be for naught."
"Yeah, having a flying Senshi should come in handy," Usagi said. "I mean, we're bound to run into an enemy sooner or later that—" She trailed off. "Gomen."
Rei smiled. "You have a practical mind, Tsukino-hime. I respect that. In any event, it falls within the bounds of my duty to cleanse impurity and evil spirits wherever I might find them. So I accept this new aspect of myself as an extension of that which I have already sworn my life to." She stood and bowed formally to Usagi. "I am at your disposal, Tsukino-hime."
Usagi stood and returned the bow. "You honour me, Hino-san. And there is no need for the formality, really."
"Nonsense, Tsukino-hime. I will defer to your station, as duty demands." She seated herself again, then fixed an unreadable stare on Luna. The youma had returned to her housecat form, and was spread out on a white towel on the floor. The towel was heavily stained with inky black blood, and Luna was occupied with cleaning her wounds. "Artemis-san," Rei began, "one detail you omitted from your summary: why is a demon—of the exact same type I was accosted by—linked to your aura? Not that I am ungrateful for Luna's assistance earlier," she added, unable to suppress a slight grimace of distaste, "but this one aspect does not make sense."
Luna glanced up. "I'm bound by powerful ancient magic," she answered before Artemis could begin. "If you know your lore, I'm under a blood magic seal and a True Name geas."
Rei frowned. "I am unfamiliar with arcana that are not strictly Shinto, but I believe—"
"Did you ever see Spirited Away?" Artemis interrupted.
"—ah. Yes, of course, I see."
Mina blinked. "I don't. What—"
"Luna can't say her own real name anymore," Usagi said. Her eyes were fixed on Artemis' face, and her mouth was set in a disapproving line. "She can't say his real name either. That's how he controls her. Isn't it?"
"In part."
Mina looked even more confused. "I still don't get it."
"Naming magic is extraordinarily powerful," Rei said. "It is, in fact, the very basis of much of Shinto, most especially the inscription of protective ofuda." She frowned. "If Artemis-san has stolen this demon's Name from her, and cursed her to be unable to speak his Name, then her body and soul are at his disposal."
Mina blinked, then stared at the mage. "Is...is that true?"
"Essentially," Artemis admitted. At her horrified look, he added, "Mina...you have to understand. I was the only one left alive. I knew what had to be done, but I couldn't do it alone." He paused, frowning, an old pain in his eyes. "I was fleeing the Palace. It was burning to the ground. Her Majesty had already sacrificed herself. Everyone was dead, and almost all the youma had been sealed away. Only a few youma escaped Queen Serenity's final spell, and they were dying rapidly, or attempting to kill me and...well, obviously not succeeding.
"By the time I realised I was truly the only survivor, there was one youma left. Just one. I very nearly destroyed her. But I realised that the creature was of a respectable level of intelligence. I realised that if I could control her, I would have the ally I would need.
"Yes, I admit it, with no remorse. I enslaved another being to my will, and it is an enslavement that must not end. Luna herself knows precisely what would happen if the geas were ever to fail."
The youma growled softly. "I would have to be destroyed, immediately, lest I kill humans. Which I would, without hesitation—it is my nature."
"To live a slave or to die a monster. Fate has been rather cruel to you, even for a demon," Rei commented.
Luna shrugged, wincing slightly as the motion stretched one of her wounds. "I told Princess Serenity once, and I will say it again: I'm not so adverse to slavery that I prefer death. The geas is admittedly incredibly infuriating—Master's refusal to speak my True Name in private even moreso."
"The mere utterance of your Name is a risk," Artemis said. "I have marked you as Luna, and so marked you shall remain."
The youma sighed. "Yes, Master."
Artemis stood. "Well, it's time I was off. Mina, you probably want to stay here tonight—you know your mum won't mind, and it's not safe to be out and about just now. Mars, it was a pleasure meeting you. Your Highness," he finished, with a bow to Usagi. Then, in a burst of white light, he vanished.
"Dickless bastard," Luna spat. She stretched, grimacing. "I'm leaving as well. I'll see you all later."
"Wait, Luna...you're hurt," Usagi began, extending a hand to the youma.
"Yes, and I'm not going to heal properly if I stay here," the cat replied. "I'm a creature of darkness, this is holy ground. Not exactly healthy for me." With that, she passed under the quilt skirting the kotatsu. When the girls looked under the table, there was no sign of her.
"This...has been one hell of a weird night," Mina pronounced. The others nodded.
* * * * *
After calling home and checking in with her mom, Usagi tried to call Makoto. After two rings, her call went to voice mail. She left a brief message, then disconnected and dialed Ami's cell. After six rings with no answer, she put her phone away with a sigh.
"I wonder what they're up to tonight," she mused aloud to nobody in particular.
* * * * *
"You want some too, huh?"
"Insolent little bitch!"
"Oh, you're so fucked now it's not even funny..."
"Mako-chan? Could you come upstairs for a minute?"
"Not right now, Motoki—"
"It's urgent."
The tall girl sighed, stepping away from the arcade machine and the obnoxious neckbeard she had been soundly beating. "Haaaaai..."
After the two had disappeared into the upstairs office, the neckbeard nodded to two boys dressed like rejects from a visual kei band, who nodded to two unassuming-looking office ladies...who pulled submachine pistols from their handbags.
This was really far too easy.
* * * * *
Ami adjusted her glasses, which flared with reflected light. "I know who the killer is."
She was right. As usual.
This was really far too easy.
* * * * *
"I can't get over this, cartoons in the middle of the night," Mina commented, kicking her bare feet in the air idly. "And who came up with this lame romance plot? Yech."
Rei laughed softly. "I suppose the concept of ren'ai does seem a little strange," she said. "Then again, much of our popular culture is rather strange, by my estimation."
The blond snorted. "I'll say. I've seen some of those girls dressed up in the maid costumes. That's just weird." She frowned. "I guess I'm a fine one to talk about weird costumes, though, huh?"
"I have wondered," Rei admitted, "about the design of those Senshi uniforms."
"They are a bit pervy, aren't they?" Mina replied, laughing. "But nobody knows it's us when we're like that, so I don't worry about it." She paused, then sighed. "Rei, I'm sorry you had to get dragged into all this. I really am."
The miko shook her head slightly. "It is the will of the kami," she said. "This is the path they have set before me, and I will walk it. I do not argue the designs of fate simply because they are inconvenient."
Mina raised an eyebrow. "You know, all night you've been sounding like something out of one of my mum's Kurosawa flicks. It's weirding me out a little."
Rei sighed. "My apologies."
"No, it's okay, I just...I'm used to you being ultra-reserved, but now you talk like a samurai movie half the time..."
The raven-haired girl smiled. "I have had a very traditional upbringing, Mina-san. I was raised to respect and honour the old traditions, and I do so by my own choice. I do not reject the modern world, as some do, but I believe in the ways of my ancestors very strongly."
Mina nodded. "That's cool."
They watched the television in silence for a time before Rei spoke again. "Mina-san...how well do you know Artemis-san? Truly? I sense a connection between you two, but..."
Mina grimaced. "Ah, that's...oh boy."
"Are you lovers?"
"NO!" Mina cried, face flushing. "I mean...well, not...yeah, we've been dating for a long time, but we haven't done anything like that..."
"I see."
Mina frowned. "You don't approve? My dating an older man?" After a moment, she winced and amended, "I mean, older as if he was really how old he looks, not...you know."
"It is not my place to approve or disapprove," Rei said mildly. "I simply do not wish to see you hurt. I have come to care for you as a friend...and at the risk of being excessively forthright, I do not trust this person."
Mina sighed. "There's a lot of that going around..."
* * * * *
"Kino-san?" Silence greeted Haruna-sensei's query. She frowned. "Kino-san?" After a moment, she shook her head and made a mark on her roll. "That's two days in a row...I'd better talk to the principal. Kodama-san?"
Usagi ignored the teacher as she continued to call roll. *Kino-san isn't here? I wonder what...*
"I'm starting to think Umino-kun might be right," Naru muttered.
"Eh?"
"Ah! Nothing, it's..." the redhead trailed off. Then, she sighed. "Usagi-chan..." Looking up at her friend, pain in her eyes, she said softly, "Umino-kun found out some...things...about Kino-san..."
* * * * *
Everything was dark. She was blindfolded.
"Okay, what the fuck's goin' on here?" she demanded angrily.
Something struck her sharply across the face. "Shut up, bitch!"
She knew that voice. "Okuda-san? What the—"
Her captor slapped her again. "I said shut up!"
"STOP HITTING HER, DAMMIT! I told you we'll refund—"
Makoto heard a truly sickening sound, followed by a tortured scream.
A rough hand seized her chin. "Now, you still owe me two hours. With interest. And my nakama are VERY interested..."
* * * * *
Usagi wrung her handkerchief over the washbasin with more force than was strictly necessary. *Naru-chan, how could you say those things...*
She stood, idly twisting her handkerchief in long-dry hands, lost in thought. Her reverie was broken by a cool voice.
"I believe it is dry now, Tsukino-san."
Usagi glanced to her right. Mizuno Ami was washing her hands. "Ami-san! I didn't notice you," she said. She folded her handkerchief, glancing around as she did so. Seeing nobody else was in the restroom, she added in a low voice, "Venus and Mars are both Awakened now."
Ami nodded curtly. "That is good news."
Usagi paused. "Mina—I mean, Venus—says she ran into that Tuxedo Kamen thief the night she became Sailor V. She doesn't know what he stole or if he got away with it, though."
Ami dried her hands. "Where did she encounter him?"
The long-haired girl blinked. "I never really got a chance to ask. It was kind of a weird night."
"If you learn where and when she encountered him, you can determine which, if any, of the gems on your list he attempted to steal. Then, we can rule out at least one possible false lead." She folded her own handkerchief and pocketed it. "Good day, Tsukino-san."
* * * * *
"Jadeite."
Beryl scowled at the blond Shitennou as he appeared.
"Acting on your counsel—yours and Nephrite's—I permitted you to engage the Senshi in combat. I am less than pleased with the results." She drummed her long, lacquered nails on the armrest of her throne. "Our enemies grow in number, and you, the noble sword of the Shitennou, retreated with no apparent attempt at direct combat."
Jadeite's jaw tightened, but he bowed in deference. "I beg your forgiveness, Queen Beryl-sama. The circumstances of the current situation are vastly different from what had been expected, and forced a withdrawal to re-evaluate our strategy."
"Explain."
Jadeite straightened and folded his hands behind his back. "By our count, there are presently five active Senshi. Additionally, one of our own shadowbrood, thought perished in the Fall, is apparently now allied with the Senshi...and Duke Artemis is with them."
Beryl's eyebrows rose almost to her hairline. "Artemis lives?!"
"There is no mistake," Jadeite replied, frowning severely. "I had believed that monster dead and buried in the dust of the Moon. Nevertheless, he is alive, now, in the human city of Tokyo."
Beryl spat a particularly filthy oath. "That would explain..." She trailed off, eyes closed. "This is truly disturbing."
"I am afraid there is one other note of importance."
"Oh?"
"One of the Senshi...is of the Moon."
"That is not possible," Beryl replied dismissively. "The Moon can bear no Senshi, for its mana is..." She trailed off, and her eyes widened. "No."
Jadeite was silent for a moment, pensive; he seemed to debate whether or not to add to his report. At length, he drew a deep breath, and added, "Queen Beryl-sama...the Senshi of the Moon, by the reckoning of myself and my brethren, is most likely Princess Serenity herself."
A wave of black rage flooded the throne room, buffeting Jadeite, who weathered the storm with poise and calm. Beryl's eyes burned with violet-black flames.
"The surge of power the Princess invoked on the night of your sister's...incursion," Jadeite continued, "was undoubtedly generated by her transformation into a Senshi."
"So that is why we have not caught sight of that little bitch since the night she Awakened," Beryl hissed, eyes closed. "She's been under our nose the entire time, masquerading as this...Moon Senshi."
"Hai," Jadeite nodded. "And the very fact of her transformation into a Senshi, as you well know, means—"
"She either has the Ginzuishou, or it has been destroyed and the Moon's mana bound to the little slut's soul in its stead."
"As you can well see, Your Majesty, the situation is...extraordinarily unfavourable to our cause."
The other three Shitennou appeared suddenly in the throne room, pressing their gloved fists to their chests in salute.
"Concern thyself not, Thy Grace," Kunzite said. "Allow us to deal with the matter of Serenity and the Senshi. Allow us to deal with the matter of Duke Artemis. These concerns need not be thine. Apply the full force of thine will and strength to the matter of restoring the Master, and entrust these mundane matters to the Shitennou."
Beryl's cold rage continued to wash over them. "You have the audacity," she hissed, "to presume to issue an order to ME?!"
"I presume no such thing," Kunzite replied, bowing. "I am merely concerned. Thou shouldest not exert needless stress upon thineself, Thy Grace, for without thee, all shall be for naught."
Beryl penetrated him with a cold, black stare for a long moment. Then, her rage abated, and she favoured the Shitennou with a cruel smile. "Your wisdom and tact serve you well, Kunzite. So be it then. I entrust the matter of preparing the human world for our return to the four of you. Do as you see fit...but do not fail me. Do not fail our Master. You know the price for failure."
The Shitennou saluted and vanished.
「You are ridiculoussss....
usssselessssss...pointlessssss....
and they know it...they mock you...」
Beryl screamed.
